Psychopath vs Sociopath

Psychopathy and sociopathy are both anti-social personality disorders. While both these disorders are the result of an interaction between genetic predispositions and environmental factors, psychopathy leans towards the hereditary whereas sociopathy tends towards the environmental.

Psychopaths are born with temperamental differences such as impulsivity, cortical underarousal, and fearlessness that lead them to risk-seeking behavior and an inability to internalize social norms. On the other hand, sociopaths have relatively normal temperaments; their personality disorder being more an effect of negative sociological factors like parental neglect, delinquent peers, poverty, and extremely low or extremely high intelligence.

Anti-social personality disorder results in extremely violent acts. Though psychiatrists often consider and treat sociopaths and psychopaths as the same, criminologists treat them as different because of the difference in their outward behaviour.

Comparison chart

Improve this chart Psychopath Sociopath
Predisposition to Violence: High Varied
Impulsivity: High Varies
Behavior: Erratic Controlled
Criminal behavior: Tendency to leave clues and act on impulse Tendency to participate in schemes and take calculated risks to minimize evidence or exposure
Criminal Predispositions: Tendency for impulsive or opportunistic criminal behavior, excessive risk taking, impulsive or opportunistic violence Tendency for premeditated crimes with controllable risks, criminal opportunism, fraud, calculated or opportunistic violence
Social relationships: Unable to maintain normal relationships. Values relationships that benefit themselves. Tendency to appear superficially normal in social relationships, often social predators
Suffers from: Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD); lack of empathy or conscience Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)

Contents

edit Differences in Outward Behavior of a Psychopath and a Sociopath

edit Social Relationships

Psychopaths often live at the fringes of society. They often tend to be extremely disorganized and are unable to maintain normal relationships with family, friends or co-workers. Unlike psychopaths, sociopaths can be almost obsessively organized and are normal in their social relationships, often forming symbiotic or parasitic relations. A sociopath would likely live an outwardly normal life and appear to blend in well with society; they may even be charming.

edit Career

Psychopaths often find it hard to maintain a steady job and home.

Sociopaths often have successful careers and try and try to make others like and trust them. This is because they understand human social emotions quite well but are unable to experience them. This allows them to be master manipulators of human emotions.

edit Violent tendencies

A psychopath's outbreaks of violence are erratic and unplanned. After an erratic act, psychopaths can often be easily identified as they generally leave behind a trail of clues and a history of violent outbursts.

A sociopaths can plan acts of violence for years and may often be motivated by greed or revenge. Violent crimes by sociopaths are often controlled and often go undetected until after a sociopath is caught.

edit Video explaining the difference

Here's a short video of HLN's Dr. Drew explaining the difference between a sociopath and a psychopath:

edit Similarities between Psychopaths and Sociopaths

Sociopaths and psychopaths both face medical disorders that can be treated or alleviated if properly diagnosed. Treatment involves therapies and may involve proper medication. In fact, psychiatrists often don't distinguish between the two based on behavior; instead, they label a person with ASPD a sociopath if their mental condition is a result of mainly social conditions like abuse during childhood and a psychopath if the condition is mainly congenital.

The symptoms in both cases begin to establish and surface at approximately fifteen years of age. The initial symptom can be excessive cruelty to animals followed by lack of conscience, remorse or guilt for hurtful actions to others at a later stage. There may be an intellectual understanding of appropriate social behavior but no emotional response to the actions of others. Psychopaths may also face an inability to form genuine relationships, and may show inappropriate or out of proportion reaction to perceived negligence.

edit Treatment and Support

Antisocial Personality Disorder is a mental illness that can be managed with drugs and therapy.

The Mayo Clinic also has information on the illness and resources for support.

edit Related Articles

edit References

Comments: Psychopath vs Sociopath

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Anonymous comments

Thor: Sorry for taking you off of Venus and making you a king

70.✗.✗.151 on 2013-05-14 18:09:50

So refreshing to see civility in an anonymous string of comments. To the anonymous Valiant Thor Venutian Omen "&all that": It is entirely possible to be passionate in moral code and conduct while feeling nothing for others, and -paths can even pull it off with a sense of humor. People who are not good or bad are, well, EVERYONE. Grey people are the rocks and paper of the world. The weaknesses of -paths are that they are hard-wired to believe they are sharper in intelligence than all of the dumb rocks and sheets of paper. You are outed by what you lack and by what you produce. -Paths who hurt and destroy can only live as parasites; they cannot live or function without hosts (like viruses and cancers). Even with allies like Hitler and Dr. Gosnell the -paths of the world haven't stopped the population of rocks and paper from growing. What feeling humans lack in ferociousness we make up for in numbers. I applaud grey-matter and advances in science to prevent, treat and erradicate human maladies.

70.✗.✗.151 on 2013-05-14 17:57:18

SHERLOCK :D <3 !!!

212.✗.✗.9 on 2013-05-09 13:18:59

How does one know that sociopaths have no emotion? They are good at mimicking others, lying, and seeming as though they do, so if a sociopath tells you they have no emotions, can you really trust their claim? What other ways are their to tell, other than a first hand account? I have sociopathic tendencies. such as I steel items for my own satisfaction (And haven't been caught), I bother and sometimes hurt people who are close to me and I can convince them that I didn't mean to, I'm good at lying, I have violent fantasies, generally envolving the pain of others (I NEVER follow through), etc. Contrary to the other facts, though, I have had a perfectly fine childhood, with the exception of being more restricted than other kids my age and being a kind of social outcast since first grade, but I still have always had good friends and loving parents, plus I feel emotions. Am I still a sociopath?

76.✗.✗.62 on 2013-04-07 07:04:55

Is it possible to be a psychopath or sociopath but also have lots of empathy towards animals and "pure" people. I know someone who shows lots if signs of an extremely violent sociopath but cares a lot for animals and people he considers pure while not showing any concern for any person which isn't pure. He would, if not for the consequences torture, kill and possibly eat people who deserve it, if he believes he can get away with it, I believe this is more than possible. He has been in with a women he thought was pure, he ended it and is still hurting 4 years later. He fits the descriptions perfectly apart from the empathy for pure people and animals and had been in love like that. He is clever, very vengeful,very manipulative, can make people do anything he wants, very charming and polite and innocent to certain people and then the complete opposite with others, has no empathy for violence at all, people that have been raped ect unless he believes they are pure, he will feel more empathy for an injured animal than person, he believes that people aren't more important than animals. He lives on his own, has a drug habit, been sexually active from very young before puberty, extreme aggression but a nice guy if you are somewhat innocent. He is a nice guy, just don't get on the wrong side if him. He lives by his own moral laws and will judge people according to his laws. Treat people the way the treat you and other people. Will be nice until u cross him or others then will rip your head off lol. I would have no doubt in my mind that he was a sociopath if he didn't show empathy for animals, pure people and hasn't been in love. What is this, I know he isn't normal there are things that aren't mentioned that no one normal would not be bothered by.

94.✗.✗.250 on 2013-03-18 19:59:36

Sociopaths and psycopaths as well as people with narcissistic behavior were born with very heavy karma from previous lives,their souls are blocked from experiencing emotions,especially love-the cure it all!They have to learn their lessons the hard way in this lifetime.

24.✗.✗.191 on 2013-03-12 01:39:14

What's wrong with sociopaths, I'm pretty sure I am one but I'm non violent. I don't understand what's so bad about them. It's not like I'm hurting anybody everyone's okay? I don't understand if treatment would be necessary? It's not like anyone Is going to get stabbed, the characteristics I have in common with a sociopath are amazing. With charm, fearlessness and charisma it seems like the corporate ladder would be to easy to climb up. So do I need to treat something or what!

71.✗.✗.32 on 2013-03-06 06:59:30

Cookie, I have Been around with 2 social-path, both women had the same personality traits. Never took responsibility for nothing that happened in thier life. Both individuals would call you on the phone, then say hi.... Then take off talking for 2 or 3 hours, never taking a breath. I would lay the phone down come back 2 hrs later they were still talking about themselves. Or did them wrong! Neither one could keep a relationship, and even their own children pulled away from them. Personally it was best to Just end relationship with both, I was not qualified to help. But I had to make sure they felt it was their decision. This way I was in the clear...

32.✗.✗.200 on 2013-03-03 23:49:28

This list is completely worn and fliped psychopaths can be both born or later maded. And social pathes tend to have low social skills with low iqs yet smart in other areas but not in prolong extend

69.✗.✗.92 on 2013-03-01 21:19:57

I have NO DOUBT that my son is a psychopath and have lived in fear of what he will do next for about the last eight years he is now 22 and has threatened the lives of me and my other children where do I turn. I am his mother and I know he is not ok but I have had him in counseling he lies his way threw everything and then blames the world for not fixing him.I am Scared of my child and don't know how or where to get help!!!!!!!

65.✗.✗.158 on 2013-02-26 20:13:35

The power of Unconditional Love can heal anything. We get caught up in words and then believe them completely. Beyond words, what are we? Pure spirit, not a label. Our task is to live in our Spirit, and not get caught up in words words words that take on an entire life of their own as we all know.

86.✗.✗.242 on 2013-02-23 23:18:41

Psychopaths, those born evil, can actually be extraordinarily successful - CEOs, Supreme Court judges, Presidents, Central Bankers, Media Barons, and leading academics whose ideas infect the thinking of whole generations. The key to understanding how you can have dumbass psychopaths who wind up in prison early on and intelligent ones who end up writing laws and running whole countries into the ground is that there are TWO bell curves. On one bell curve you have normal people. Most of us fall somewhere in the middle of this bell curve; of ave. intelligence and ability to empathise with others. Some humans are exceptional, while others are pretty dimwitted, but essentially kind-hearted. Then you have the psychopathic bell curve, which is totally separate. They all have no conscience. Most of them are middle-of-the-road psychos who leave a trail of destruction but generally keep getting away with it because of normies' complete ignorance of psychopathy. Some of them get caught and diagnosed early on because they have such poor impulse control and are so glaringly obviously not human. The most successful psychopaths, however, are a whole different kettle of fish. Placed at the far right end of this second bell curve, these super-dangerous types rise to the top and dominate society to the extent of trying to reshape it in their image. They have exceptional discipline. They too will kill, torture, rape, steal from and abuse people as they backstab their way to the top, but they generally keep such urges in check thanks to very well-constructed 'masks of sanity', from which they take regular much-needed 'vacations into filth', as Harvey Cleckley described it. That's why mega-rich far-right wing fundamentalist religious preachers in the U.S. get down and dirty with transvestite strippers over some crystal meth on the weekends: the rest of the week they are practically holding their breath playing the role of 'saintly people' to their families, underlings and church flock. These so-called 'successful psychopaths' present themselves as more normal than normal itself. It's very difficult to catch them out, but it can be done. Once they do reach the top, it's actually dead easy to spot them because they're so busy getting payback on the society of normal man - sending people to wars they create by profiting from arms sales to both sides; signing off on laws that make life as stressful as possible for their enemy (the normal population below them); drafting policy papers that dream up new ways of hurting people by torturing them - both fiscally through more and more taxes and, post-9/11, literally; pillaging the real wealth from economies through their zombie banks, and so on. Sadly, by the time they reach the top and become seen for what they are, the damage is already done and society has nowhere to go but down. By now they have eaten their way through the whole fabric of society like a parasitic cancer. Historically, normal people have dealt with it by overthrowing their corrupt leaders, but failure to understand why the disease keeps returning means that psychopaths will again rise to the top in future... unless we can somehow get this knowledge into the system.

77.✗.✗.112 on 2013-02-23 13:14:38

saying youre a sociopath bunch of idiots a sociopath would never admit to it. Just attention grabbers, sociopath dont care for any one if theyre of no use.

174.✗.✗.102 on 2013-01-13 07:37:10

I think I'm a sociopath. I always known I was different, but I've always had control over it, myself, and most others around me. I'm starting to lose control over my temperament I rarely experience emotions. I'm not happy, or sad, or angry, or anything. Twice now in the past two months I've gotten a flash of anger so intense that I have to go hit something so I don't hit someone. I don't want to disappoint or scare my family. I cant leave and go be alone because they rely on me financially. I can't afford to go to counselling. All I want to do is get in my car and drive away. What am i supposed to do?

24.✗.✗.3 on 2012-12-19 06:05:31

I suspect a couple of people that maybe are psychopaths and sociopaths. I read a couple of comments below and reading that some people have these things and how they live with it, I find it fascinating.

75.✗.✗.90 on 2012-11-26 22:50:37

I find it really stupid that our legal system could free people like me. We know your laws, we know that it's wrong to commit atrochious acts of violence. That's one of the main reasons why we can pull up such a meticulously built façade. We simply don't care about your laws cause they stop us from getting what we want, and that's no reason to be giving us freebies.

205.✗.✗.66 on 2012-10-23 18:54:32

I'm a sociopath myself, and I find myself confused as to why someone would feel sympathy to us not being able to feel emotions like you. Althought we don't feel happy, pride or other positive feelings like normal people, it's also a life which enables you to get everything you want. My life is pretty successful and looks pretty normal to most people. I have a nice home, I own a couple of appartements in town and I started a small buisness when I was young which provides me with a generous revenue, but that's all people know about me. When I'm alone my disease allows me to indulge myself in my desires. I consume recreational drugs such as ectasy and heroine almost daily now. And from time to time I like to explore gore and violence, so I buy a ballistic gel torso and head and cut/smash it to pieces (deadliest warrior style) :). And then I can just clean up my drugs or violent mess and run my buisness and live my normal life like nothing ever happened. Sure we can't feel happy or guilty, but we're extremely good at getting what we want.

205.✗.✗.66 on 2012-10-23 18:44:44

I'm a sociopath, and let me tell you, it's not picnic. When we learn what we really are, it's distressing. It's just as distressing to see what some people think of us, and forget the fact that we are still human beings. We are still made from the same organic material you are...we're just...different. Trust me when I tell you, this isn't fun. It's actually quite miserable, knowing that you may never understand others, knowing that nobody may ever really understand you. The fear of the stigma, of people running in the other direction if you get the courage to tell them to their face. Wondering if you'll ever amount to anything, wondering why you even have a family to begin with, pondering why you're related when all you can view them as are strangers, people that share a house that you feel next to nothing towards. Also, the pain of knowing, once you really find out what you are and why you are the way you are, that you may never receive love.

24.✗.✗.185 on 2012-10-23 15:15:27

Sociopaths can be identified if you know what to look for,,however,,the byword is intuition,,humans generally know that somthing is wrong in a person by intuition, Sociopaths can be very smooth and glib but there is something repulsive when in close proximity to them, something the untrained eye can't quite come up with, the nearest you can come to this was explained by Dr Martha Stout in her excellent book, 'The Sociopath Next Door,,when you look into the eyes of a Sociopath even though he or she is smiling it is like the face of an animal,,just before it attacks and eats you, that sums it up for me, my next door neighbour is exactly like this,,,keep your distance..

2.✗.✗.78 on 2012-10-15 19:25:51

I've been studying and talking to Psychopaths and Sociopaths for a little over a year, what few are willing to out themselves behind a screen of anonymity at least. Every time I think there's nothing one can say or do that will surprise or appall me I get proven wrong, from arguing against charity on the basis that it makes people dependent, to laughing at 9/11, at times their lack of empathy truly stands out. But some of them seem well adapted and try to manage their disorder, and a few of them have codes of ethics they stick to. I think it's a mistake to write them all off as beyond the pale. It's almost like part of their soul is missing, but they aren't all bad people. I think a big part of the problem is that they're left alone with their disorder, no one identifies them or tries to help them until they become criminals. If we learn to recognize the problem and gauge the extent of it early I think it's very possible to help them avoid dysfunctional behavior and find a healthy place in society, they may even be uniquely suited for certain lines of work, such as detectives, morticians, or actors.

67.✗.✗.54 on 2012-10-07 15:39:00

I feel so much sympathy for people who are emotionless.

66.✗.✗.58 on 2012-09-26 16:30:30

I know a sociopath that lost. Keep the faith and a strong head over your shoulders adn never carry what they have, malice intent.

67.✗.✗.162 on 2012-07-29 18:28:15

We have been pretty sure thay my neice is a sociopath...correct!! Her friends are made up of people that serve her a purpose. She is a huge thief, and will steal the shirt off your back - literally! As stated she commit her crime with a trace of proof left behind! Then while the people she has stolen from knows with 99% accuracy that she did it, they cannot have her charged because of the lack of the one measly percent - which is always the nail in the coffin %!! UGHH very frustraring! But, looking abck at her upbringing - It was totally environmental and not born that way! She was raised with the neglect and poverty as mentioned. However, her mother 'bred' her to be the way she is. She was very spoiled...Her bad behaviours were not corrected. ALL of her sisters belongings were at her disposal, even by the mothers force if the sister refused. The mother once accused the sister of stealing batteries out of something and demanded she buy new ones...However, if she knew this daughter well enough, she never stole a flower from a garden? But the neice, who was the one to look to in the 1st place? I went to bat for sister! Stating the obvious...The mother never demanded neice replace them or tried to fix the problem - She was 10 at the time? No one wants neice around...If we invite her for xmas, she steals all our xmas presents? If she does drop by unplanned, we split up being on each floor and my 2 kids (who have been her victims too) are follow her around at all times and keep her occupied, while we listen to everything going on. IT IS SO HORRIBLE!! I don't even have space here to get into what she has done to me brother (her father - that was forced out of her life by her mother)!!!!!

173.✗.✗.231 on 2012-07-06 15:51:20

I believe "antisocial" personalities are all born, and not made by society. This would explain why two different people who are both abused mentally and physically as a children-only one of them has an antisocial personality disorder. I speak strongly to this because I come from a family with several antisocial personalities, starting with my mother. My eldest brother and sister are both personality disorders with crimainal [murderous] tendencies, which I has witnessed first hand. Needless to say, we have a very dysfunctional family-and mantain out distances to each other. The familial connection is not mentioned in the article, so I just thought I would share my story.

75.✗.✗.97 on 2012-07-03 04:05:38

I'm a Sociopath and am extremely dangerous. I know this and I use it to my advantage. I will get my revenge on everyone who did me wrong I swear it. Those who think they can handle people like me are Wrong. Don't try to no matter what you think. We Always win in the end. Always.

67.✗.✗.216 on 2012-06-07 02:18:15

I am a psychopath, I am extremely intelligent, I can function normally. I am extremely dangerous. But I am trying my best to live a compassionate happy life. Thank you.

166.✗.✗.205 on 2012-04-06 10:40:52

Assuming that psychopaths "take years to plan crimes" is inaccurate. You should do more research. The Wikipedia article doesn't suggest that at all. Psychopaths can have normal intelligence or below normal intelligence and can be caught quite easily, sometimes within hours or days. The idea of a superior intelligence among psychopaths is confined to the realm of fiction. Some psychopaths lead normal lives, understanding how to fit into society and do succesfully. It is estimated that 4% of CEO's have psychopathic tendencies. Anyone could generalize that statement as well, but shouldn't. As with all psychological disorders, it is case by case.

71.✗.✗.234 on 2011-09-16 01:40:11

- by 71.14.40.126 on 2011-03-06 15:25:46 Your comments horrify me. Are you one of these who walk among us?

70.✗.✗.2 on 2011-09-14 17:52:16

You can not treat a psychopath. You can only help those who want to change. The lack of empathy gives them an edge over everyone else, they are not held by socal prodical like everyone else elevateing them above the common. They beleave themselves to be better than everyone else so why would they want to change? Because you think they need help? They dont care what you think, you are less then they are plus they really dont care who they hurt. So in short, the ability to treat a psycopath is a myth to help the little people sleep better at night.

75.✗.✗.169 on 2011-05-07 19:37:56

I, for one, am quite glad our legal system allows for the easier freeing of such citizens. While yes, either of these "diseases" could most likely be used to obtain a Diminished Capacity Plea, one who had a decent lawyer would find himself or herself free to go, in most cases. The American system of law has numerous "loopholes" and technicalities, and in my educated opinion, this, is quite a glorious thing.

71.✗.✗.126 on 2011-03-06 15:25:46

I don't think either of these would count for a temporary insanity plea being as they are both permanent conditions unless treated with medication and therapy. From what I understand many temporary insanity pleas involve fits of rage involving things like a cheating spouse or retribution for a loved one.

67.✗.✗.88 on 2011-03-01 01:26:02

they say that their is truely only one type of individual who under the technical terms of the laws are able to use the defense of temporary insanity . which one would this be i cant remember and if this is indeed true why are so many allowed this form of plea in the court system? i just dont get it?

69.✗.✗.3 on 2010-07-31 11:23:28

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