Sep 21, 2024 10:00:00

An expert explains the difference between a 'psychopath' and a 'sociopath'

People who behave in an antisocial manner, such as

Hannibal Lecter in the film ' Silence of the Lambs ,' are sometimes called 'psychopaths' or 'sociopaths.' Bruce Watt and Katharina Fritzon, associate professors of psychology at Bond University, explain the difference between the two.

What's the difference between a psychopath and a sociopath? Less than you might think
https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-a-psychopath-and-a-sociopath-less-than-you-might-think-226714

◆What is a psychopath?
The term 'psychopathy,' which has been

referred to in the field of psychiatry since the 1800s, is now known as ' antisocial personality disorder ,' and people with this disorder are characterized by a disregard for the law, repeated lies, impulsive behavior, disregard for safety, irresponsible behavior, and a lack of concern for the consequences of their actions.

In 1941, American psychiatrist Hervey Cleckley first formally described the characteristics of a 'psychopath' based on clinical observations of nine male patients with antisocial personality disorder (PDF file) . According to Cleckley, key characteristics of a person with antisocial personality disorder include superficial attractiveness, inability to trust people, and a lack of remorse or shame.

Watt and his colleagues state that, based on these characteristics, 'psychopaths are manipulative, superficially charming, self-aggrandizing, and excessively deceptive. ' In addition, emotional characteristics include 'a lack of emotion and empathy, indifference to the suffering of others, and a failure to accept responsibility for how their actions affect others. '

◆What is a sociopath?
The term 'sociopath' is said to have first

appeared in the 1930s by American psychologist George Partridge. Partridge described 'sociopath' as 'a habitual violation of the rights of others.' He also identified emotional characteristics similar to those of Cleckley's definition of a psychopath.

Because of these characteristics, the terms 'sociopath' and 'psychopath' have often been confused, and in the late 1960s psychiatrists classified both 'sociopath' and 'psychopath' as having 'antisocial personality disorder.'

'People have different ideas about what a sociopath is, and to this day, sociopaths are not as clearly defined as psychopaths. The two are very similar, and there is no single definition that clearly distinguishes between sociopaths and psychopaths,' Watt and his colleagues say.

The difference between a psychopath and a sociopath
As such, while there are few differences in the manifestations of psychopaths and sociopaths, previous research has shown that there are differences in the causes of their development. It has been revealed that people with psychopathic traits have

specific differences from people without psychopathic traits in areas of the brain related to emotions, behavioral inhibition, and problem solving , as well as differences related to the nervous system, such as a slower heart rate .

On the other hand, sociopaths and their antisocial behavior are said to be born from differences in social environment, and it has been shown that they tend to originate from families, such as physical abuse or parental conflict in childhood. In addition, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published in 1952, also explained that 'sociopathic personality disorder is caused by the social environment' ( PDF file) .

'We know that characters like Hannibal Lecter are fictional, and that not all people with psychopathic or sociopathic traits will become serial killers or be violent,' Watt and his colleagues said. 'However, people with these traits are more likely to engage in a range of harmful behaviours, and in the criminal justice system, people with psychopathic traits have been shown to be more likely to reoffend.'

Furthermore, previous research has shown that people with psychopathic traits are more likely to suffer from drug addiction, homelessness and other personality disorders, and it has been predicted that people with psychopathic traits will be less compliant with COVID-19-related restrictions.

However, it has been noted that sociopathy has not been established as a risk factor for identifying people who are at high risk of harming others and is not a reliable indicator of future antisocial behavior.