Psychopathic vs Sociopathic:Know the Difference in the Two?

People often use the term “sociopath” to describe someone they dislike or find repulsive because they appear to lack empathy. When referring to a sociopath who is just more dangerous, such as a mass murderer, the term “psychopath” is used.

There is an overlap between sociopaths and psychopaths, and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. When referring to APDs, the popular word is “sociopathy,” but “psychopathy” is not a recognized diagnosis or type of APD. In today’s blog, we will discover the difference between psychopathic vs sociopathic.

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What is the difference between psychopaths and sociopaths?

Both sociopath vs psychopaths can be used today to mean the same thing—that the person described has an antisocial personality disorder. The traits of psychopathy and sociopathy are similar, yet they are not the same.

What is a Sociopath?

The word “sociopathy” was first used throughout the 1920s and 1950s, when behaviorism was the dominant school of psychology. For example, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) would not finance research on “sociopaths” because the term has been out of use for decades.

The term “blank slate theory” was popular when people believed they were born with no preexisting traits and could be molded into anything by their upbringing and experiences. However, some 20 years ago, the term “sociopathy” was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) since it was deemed erroneous, and the focus switched to increasing precision and reliability in diagnosis. Sociopathic personality disorder causes harmful behavior; the person is manipulative and aggressive.

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What is a Psychopath?

Psychopathy is still used in modern psychology to describe people who are extremely unemotional or insensitive, as well as people who exhibit impulsive or developing antisocial behaviors like destructive or aggressive behavior, even though the term is not a formal diagnosis according to the DSM-5.

Psychopathic traits typically manifest in early childhood and have far-reaching consequences for a person’s personal and professional interactions. According to research published in Frontiers in Psychology in 2021, psychopathy affects about 1.2% of adults. Individuals with psychopathy have difficulty connecting with and trusting others because of their antisocial tendencies, such as a lack of empathy and a disregard for the well-being and feelings of others.

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Is violence an indicator of antisocial personality disorder?

Anybody can cause harm to anyone else. Those with antisocial personality disorder are included in this category. However, not everyone with ASPD is violent. On the other hand, those with psychopathy may display more aggressive and violent tendencies with time.

The results of several studies are as follows:

• Approximately 90% of ex-convicts with high levels of psychopathy committed a violent crime within 20 years of their release. Those with modest levels of psychopathy (the majority) were just 40% as likely to do so.

• More than half of all police officer fatalities can be directly attributed to psychopaths.

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Why does it happen?

The causes of psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder are not well understood. There could be several contributing factors, including:

• Mind or brain– Those with ASPD may have atypicalities in the brain circuitry responsible for regulating behavior, according to research. The brains of people with psychopathy are smaller in specific regions. That comprises regions responsible for compassion, moral judgment, shame, and humiliation.

• Genetics– If a parent or close relative has this condition, you are likelier to have it.

• Gender– Although psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder can affect anyone, men appear to be at a substantially higher risk. Men are estimated to be three times more likely to develop ASPD than women. However, most ASPD studies have involved men, suggesting that women may be underdiagnosed.  

• Upbringing– The risk of developing ASPD increases if one experiences childhood neglect, abuse, or familial instability.

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How are sociopaths and psychopaths diagnosed?

Understanding the differences between psychopathic vs sociopathic behaviors is crucial for mental health professionals.

Personality and behavioral characteristics that characterize how a person behaves, how they relate to others, and how their views are expressed via behaviors are used to categorize APD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

1. Self-Functioning Characteristics

Personality and how individuals evaluate and pursue their goals are examples of self-functioning traits. All of the following symptoms must be present for a diagnosis of APD to be made:

• Developing a sense of worth as a result of material success or sensual enjoyment.

• Pride in one’s importance; egotism.

• Pursuing one’s desires with utter disregard for the rules and norms of society.

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2. Personality Traits in Social Interaction

Interpersonal traits define one’s general demeanor when interacting with others. To be diagnosed with APD, you must also have the following symptoms:

• A lack of compassion for the pain of others or for the fury of those they have deceived.

• The inability to form close emotional bonds with another person without resorting to manipulative behaviors such as domination, intimidation, or deception.

3. Personality Traits

The clinical diagnosis is not complete without a description of the individual’s behavior, which may include indicators such as:

• A persistent disdain for keeping pledges and breaking agreements, especially financial ones.

• You have trouble formulating plans because you like to convince yourself that you can easily deal with obstacles as they arise.

• Assaults and fights are regular occurrences for people with APD.

• Using deception to advance one’s social standing, e.g., pretending to be a decorated military hero when one has never served.

• Deciding on the spur of the moment with little thought for the future to accomplish the here and now.

• Constant rage or irritation, even about trivial matters, and nasty, vindictive actions.

• Responding to the consequences of your acts with indifference, hostility, lack of regret, or even sadistic intent.

• Ability to ignore personal limits and rationalize even the most absurd actions, risk-taking, and a propensity to bore easily.

• Manipulating another person’s feelings to further their agenda, such as acting interested in them when they aren’t.

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How can you treat ASPD?

It’s not easy to help someone with antisocial personality disorder. That’s partly because those with it tend to dismiss the idea that they need assistance. However, some signs could emerge at a younger age. In such a case, if the child’s parents seek assistance, they may show signs of improvement.

The efficacy of any given treatment for adults with ASPD is unknown due to a lack of data. However, if the patient cooperates, their doctor may recommend talk therapy to deal with rage or other mental health concerns. Aggression and despair are two examples of negative behaviors that could be helped by medication. However, psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder are not treatable with medication.

Find a support group or consult a mental health professional if you have this problem. If you think you could have a personality disorder, talk to your doctor about getting a referral to a specialist.

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Conclusion

The term “sociopath” has come to be used informally to describe someone with ASPD. A psychopath is a person who exhibits psychopathic characteristics. Personality disorders include ASPD. While some scientists classify psychopathy as a subtype of ASPD, others place it in another category altogether.

There is a lot of overlap between ASPD and psychopathy. Psychopaths, in contrast to those with ASPD, typically exhibit more extreme forms of antisocial conduct. Both can develop for various reasons, including genetics and the environment and, in the case of psychopathy, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).

Psychopathic vs sociopathic individuals may display distinct behavior patterns, with psychopathy often associated with a lack of empathy and sociopathy tied to environmental factors and social influences.

Since there is currently no way to reverse either disease, treatment focuses on alleviating the patient’s symptoms. Anyone concerned that they or a kid in their care may have antisocial personality disorder or psychopathy should consult a medical or mental health expert.

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