What is the difference between a psychopath and sociopath?
In your view, what is the difference? Has the difference been made up? I think a sociopath is a psychopath.
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Reject · 26-30, M
All sociopaths are psychopaths but not all psychopaths are sociopaths. Sociopath is a branch of the umbrella term Psychopath. Sociopathy can be basically defined as a psychopath whose main characteristic is the inability to understand other human beings. They tend to have no empathy so social interactions are more of a game to them and not actually felt in any way.
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Reject · 26-30, M
@LordShadowfire A psychopath is very broadly defined as someone who has lost touch with reality because of their own perspective or emotions. People do this in a variety of different ways which is where all the different kinds of psychopathy come from. Some kinds of psychopaths feel less emotions and are generally apathetic, such as schizophrenics, but they all feel. The reason for apathy in schizophrenia is because they’re so lost in their own fantasies that actual reality doesn’t affect them anymore. At least not as much as their imagined experiences. It can certainly seem like they feel nothing at all.
LordShadowfire · 46-50, M
@Reject Well, I guess I should rephrase. I was under the impression that they thought they couldn't feel. I was also under the impression that there was a particular variety of psychopathy that had to do with brain chemistry from birth, and was generally considered incurable.
Reject · 26-30, M
@LordShadowfire I’m sure there are some psychopaths who have concluded that they can’t feel. Most likely because they don’t feel like me or you do. They might even believe that’s true for others as well, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t feel anything at all. They often struggle with a lack of meaning because of their lack of feeling so most of their subsequent actions are meant to find meaning. That pursuit alone is proof of emotion. There are well documented cases of psychopathy from birth and it can’t be cured. However, I choose to believe that there’s ways to help them still, unfortunately we just don’t have the means or resources to help them yet. So they often end up being removed from society because of how dangerous they are.
pknein · 46-50, M
to be fair, some argue for differences between the two which you can read about in the literature - but they seem mainly to be definitional (and sometime etiological) rather than functional -- practically speaking, they are almost always used interchangeably. And even historically when you look at the formulation of 'sociopathy' in the 1940s, even then others called this 'psychopathy'.
As far as diagnosis, the DSM-IV basically recognized both 'psychopathy' and 'sociopathy' as historic terms for anti-social personality disorder. The DSM-V took a step further in recognizing psychopathy as a 'specifier' of ASPD (as opposed to just being an historic term) but doesnt view it as a specific disorder in its own right.
As far as diagnosis, the DSM-IV basically recognized both 'psychopathy' and 'sociopathy' as historic terms for anti-social personality disorder. The DSM-V took a step further in recognizing psychopathy as a 'specifier' of ASPD (as opposed to just being an historic term) but doesnt view it as a specific disorder in its own right.
pknein · 46-50, M
not sure what aspect of my response elicited this comment - but the DSM does not recognize 'psychopath' as a disorder- let alone four types of them. There may be other, non-clinical, classifications where there are 4 'types' are recognized and even defined but that isn't something I am familiar with.
Starcrossed · 41-45, F
Psychopathy is not listed as a clinical diagnosis in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published in 2013 by the American Psychiatric Association. However, the DSM-5 does include a specifier for diagnosing psychopathy in Section III, which is based on the dimensional model of personality disorders. This specifier is modeled after Factor 1 of the Psychopathic Personality Inventory, known as Fearless Dominance. According to the DSM, primary psychopathy is diagnosed when someone meets the criteria for both Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) and the Psychopathic Features Specifier.
The term "psychopathy" is often used informally to refer to ASPD, which is characterized by manipulative behavior and violations of others. However, the term has a complex history and can lead to harmful stereotypes and preconceptions. Professionals may use the term to describe certain traits found in mental health issues like ASPD, but it is no longer used as a diagnosis.
Sociopath is an outdated, informal term for someone who has antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). This disorder can cause you to lack empathy, which means you don't care about or understand other peoples' feelings.
Antisocial Personality Disorder DSM-5-TR Criteria:
Clinical features include ≥3 of the following: Failure to conform to social norms concerning lawful behaviors, such as performing acts that are grounds for arrest. Deceitfulness, repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for pleasure or personal profit.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546673/
The term "psychopathy" is often used informally to refer to ASPD, which is characterized by manipulative behavior and violations of others. However, the term has a complex history and can lead to harmful stereotypes and preconceptions. Professionals may use the term to describe certain traits found in mental health issues like ASPD, but it is no longer used as a diagnosis.
Sociopath is an outdated, informal term for someone who has antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). This disorder can cause you to lack empathy, which means you don't care about or understand other peoples' feelings.
Antisocial Personality Disorder DSM-5-TR Criteria:
Clinical features include ≥3 of the following: Failure to conform to social norms concerning lawful behaviors, such as performing acts that are grounds for arrest. Deceitfulness, repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for pleasure or personal profit.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546673/
BarbossasHusband · 36-40, M
CrazyMusicLover · 31-35
Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M
Sociopaths have the ability to understand how to appear to behave normally in order to get what they want.
Psychopaths. Even high functioning, have no interest in associating with others beyond manipulating others for their own amusement.
Psychopaths. Even high functioning, have no interest in associating with others beyond manipulating others for their own amusement.
JonLosAngeles66 · M
A psychopath is one who loses connection with reality and a sociopath is one who lacks empathy completely and will do whatever is good for them regardless of the harm to others.
That was the basic gist I got in college.
That was the basic gist I got in college.
SomeMichGuy · M
Look at the articles on wikipedia.
One of them has been dropped in the bible of psychological maladies / diagnoses.
One of them has been dropped in the bible of psychological maladies / diagnoses.
plungesponge · 41-45, M
A psychopath runs around with axes, while a sociopath walks in with a smile because you're just a play-thing to them
meJess · F
The difference is the ability to blend in by being able to mimic attributes. Psychopaths are less able to do this than sociopaths.
wildbill83 · 36-40, M
a sociopath can't control their emotions; a psychopathy simply doesn't have emotions any to restrain them...
MissyChrissy · 18-21, F
Psychopaths are emotionless, sociopaths are mixed up with their emotions.
Gingerbreadspice · F
A sociopath is someone who studied sociology probably.
GohantheThird · M
Psychopath craves violence, sociopath craves control.
Pfuzylogic · M
This added some clarity for me.
Not exactly DSM5 though
[media=https://tiktok.com/7401999341902138656/]
Not exactly DSM5 though
[media=https://tiktok.com/7401999341902138656/]
RedBaron · M
Psycho vs socio
MasterLee · 56-60, M
The taste
SW-User
[media=https://youtu.be/Fb-lkUYhBMk]
tenente · 100+, M
i don't know anything. both are antisocial disorders. i think psychopath lacks emotions while sociopaths get angry or pissed off at little things. also, aren't psychopaths deliberate while sociopaths are impulsive? idk...
emiliya · 22-25, F
@tenente An NIH article says:
(cannot post link due to account limitations)
If there are psychopaths who appear more controlled than other psychopaths, it is a personality trait, or maybe they are older and wiser.
I know there is a disorder called “antisocial personality disorder”, and this can be diagnosed. There is also a PCL-R test, which is used “to assess the presence and extent of psychopathy in individuals.”
Psychopaths are people and they are flawed. Some are older than others, some have more experience than others, and some will be more sensitive to different provocation than others. The idea of “sociopath” is poorly explained and seems to come from a misunderstanding of psychopath.
Psychopathy is a disorder characterized in part by shallow emotional responses, lack of empathy, impulsivity, and an increased likelihood for antisocial behavior (Cleckley, 1941; Hare, 1996). Psychopaths are responsible for an inordinate proportion of crime committed (Kiehl & Hoffman, 2011), and their conning, manipulative interpersonal style typically has a broad, destructive impact on the individuals’ life, work, and relationships.
(cannot post link due to account limitations)
If there are psychopaths who appear more controlled than other psychopaths, it is a personality trait, or maybe they are older and wiser.
I know there is a disorder called “antisocial personality disorder”, and this can be diagnosed. There is also a PCL-R test, which is used “to assess the presence and extent of psychopathy in individuals.”
Psychopaths are people and they are flawed. Some are older than others, some have more experience than others, and some will be more sensitive to different provocation than others. The idea of “sociopath” is poorly explained and seems to come from a misunderstanding of psychopath.
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