Sociopath vs. Psychopath

By Jaxson

  • Psychopath

    Psychopathy, sometimes considered synonymous with sociopathy, is traditionally defined as a personality disorder characterized by persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy, impaired remorse, bold, disinhibited, and egotistical traits. Different conceptions of psychopathy have been used throughout history. These conceptions are only partly overlapping and may sometimes be contradictory.

    Hervey M. Cleckley, an American psychiatrist, influenced the initial diagnostic criteria for antisocial personality reaction/disturbance in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), as did American psychologist George E. Partridge. The DSM and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) subsequently introduced the diagnoses of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and dissocial personality disorder (DPD) respectively, stating that these diagnoses have been referred to (or include what is referred to) as psychopathy or sociopathy. The creation of ASPD and DPD was driven by the fact that many of the classic traits of psychopathy were impossible to measure objectively. Canadian psychologist Robert D. Hare later repopularized the construct of psychopathy in criminology with his Psychopathy Checklist.

    Although no psychiatric or psychological organization has sanctioned a diagnosis titled “psychopathy”, assessments of psychopathic characteristics are widely used in criminal justice settings in some nations, and may have important consequences for individuals. The study of psychopathy is an active field of research, and the term is also used by the general public, popular press, and in fictional portrayals. While the term is often employed in common usage along with “crazy”, “insane”, and “mentally ill”, there is a distinction between those with psychosis and psychopathy.

Wikipedia
  • Sociopath (noun)

    A person with an antisocial personality disorder, exhibiting antisocial behavior that usually is the result of social and environmental factors in the person’s early life.

  • Psychopath (noun)

    A person with a manipulating, delusions of grandeur, sexual promiscuity, low self-control, disregard for morality, lack of acceptance of responsibility, callousness, and lack of empathy and remorse. Such an individual may be especially prone to violent and criminal offenses.

  • Psychopath (noun)

    A person with no moral conscience who perpetrates especially gruesome or bizarre violent acts.

  • Psychopath (noun)

    A person diagnosed with antisocial or dissocial personality disorder.

  • Psychopath (noun)

    A person diagnosed with any mental disorder.

Wiktionary
  • Sociopath (noun)

    a person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behaviour.

Oxford Dictionary

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