How to distinguish between a psychopath and a sociopath?

Several key ideas on how to distinguish between a psychopath and a sociopath.

When talking about those who have no respect for the rights and feelings of others, it is common to talk about words like "psychopathy" and "sociopathy".

Now... are these two terms synonymous? The answer is not exactly, although it is a complex issue. Let's explore it in this article, in which we will see how to differentiate between a psychopath and a sociopath..

The 4 keys to distinguish between a sociopath and a psychopath.

The first thing to keep in mind is that both psychopathy and sociopathy are controversial concepts, in the sense that there is no scientific consensus (in Psychology and Psychiatry) about their definition.

The closest to delimiting them conceptually that has been done is to create the diagnostic categories of Antisocial Personality Disorder and Dissocial Personality Disorder. the diagnostic categories of Antisocial Personality Disorder and Dissocial Personality Disorder, belonging to the DSM 5 and ICD 10 diagnostic manuals, respectively.belonging to the DSM 5 and ICD 10 diagnostic manuals, respectively.

These two categories are very similar or almost indistinguishable when describing the symptoms of the psychopathologies they express in words, and what they explain is usually understood to correspond to psychopathy and sociopathy, although they do not completely overlap with these concepts (partly due to the lack of concreteness of the latter).

However, this does not mean that neither sociopaths nor psychopaths exist. Beyond the creation of diagnostic manuals, whose raison d'être is to portray psychological disorders as reliably and in as much detail as possible, psychologists and behavioral science researchers in general have been talking for decades about psychopathy and sociopathy to define sets of problematic or outright psychopathological traits. They are something like unofficial psychological constructs, which allow each person to get an approximate idea about the behavior of certain individuals, even if several loose ends are left untied.

As we have seen, both psychopathy and sociopathy are concepts associated with the Antisocial Personality Disorder, which already reveals something about what they are: they are psychological disturbances that are reflected in all areas of the individual's life, because their symptoms are integrated into the personality. because their symptoms are integrated into the individual's personality.

These symptoms have to do with a lack of empathy, disregard for legality and written and unwritten social norms, and the view of others as tools to achieve something.

From here, let's see how to distinguish a psychopath from a sociopath.

1. The psychopath has more long-term vision.

Although both psychopathy and sociopathy occur in individuals who generally give in to their impulses, comparatively, the term "sociopath" is used for individuals who have serious problems in achieving long-term goals and prioritizing them ahead of their more immediate impulses. Thus, psychopaths are more calculating and have greater resources to "cover their tracks" by violating rules and persuading or seducing others to use them to their advantage.

2. Sociopaths are sociopaths because of physical or mental health problems suffered at some point in their lives.

It is generally understood that psychopaths behave in an abnormal and harmful manner due to mostly genetic factors; however, sociopaths behave in a chaotic or hostile manner due to personal problems, sociopaths behave in a chaotic or hostile manner because of personal problems such as traumatic childhood such as a traumatic childhood, a brain injury, etc.

3. The psychopath has a greater capacity for socialization.

As the psychopath is not a psychopath because he has suffered an experience with disruptive power in his behavior, he has a greater capacity to orient all his actions to a concrete purpose, while the sociopath is more spontaneous and more socialized than the psychopath. the sociopath is more spontaneous and finds it difficult to predict his own actions..

4. The sociopath has serious problems with social climbing.

Sociopathy is associated with precariousness and lack of resources, whereas psychopathy is more transversal in this sense. In fact, several research studies suggest that some skilled and well-paying jobs give an advantage to those who tend toward psychopathyby enhancing their tendency to compete and not empathize with others. In other words, psychopathy does not always have to be a hindrance to thriving economically and socially.

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