The Psychopath and The Sociopath: Similarities and Differences

We have a guest author this month! Daniel King is a Transition Year student who has done some research on human behaviours. Here, he presents an abridged version of his research on psychopathy and sociopathy. 

 

 

Two commonly used terms to describe some whose behaviour we struggle with in society, is sociopath and psychopath. However, a lot of people that use these words, are unaware of their actual meaning and some think they are actually the exact same thing. In this blog, I am going to explain what they are and outline their similarities and differences. 

 

 

A psychopath is defined as someone who completely lacks empathy, guilt and remorse. This is often accompanied by impulsive and manipulative behaviour, masked by superficial charm and appearing 'normal.' They can pretend to feel emotions and are very good at concealing their disorder. In fact, psychopaths have some cognisance regarding what society deems as ‘normal’ and they can follow along when it suits them. While psychopathy is a scientifically recognized disorder, it is not regarded as a clinical diagnosis because it is not listed by that name in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 (DSM-5)) or the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10), which are the manuals that psychiatrists use to diagnose mental illnesses. 

 

 

A sociopath, similarly, is regarded as someone that lacks empathy and manipulates others. They frequently engage in violent or antisocial behaviour. On the surface, it may seem they are the same disorder, but there are a few details that differentiate them. 

 

 

Both psychopathy and sociopathy can fit under the umbrella of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). People that have these illnesses, are characterised by lack of empathy, manipulative personality types and destructive behaviour. Both can hide their true nature and follow societal norms. They can be conscious that they are not like the rest of society, however, they do not believe there is anything wrong with them per se. They can somewhat understand right from wrong but often feel like they are above the law and that rules do not apply to them. Psychopaths are also typically narcissistic so also meet the criteria for Narcissitic Personality Disorder (NPD) However, the reverse is not always true – that all people with NPD are psychopathic. 

 

 

There a number of differences between psychopaths and sociopaths but it mostly comes down to how they control their behaviour rather than the traits themselves. For example, psychopaths are believed to be more calculating and can better conceal themselves while sociopaths can be more impulsive and often get themselves into trouble. If you talk to a psychopath about an issue you may be having, they will not care but will act like they do. If you talk to a sociopath about your issue, they will be pretty clear that they do not care at all. That is probably the most distinct feature that separates them. Another difference is that sociopaths are better able to form genuine relationships with people and sometimes are capable of having a partner. While sociopaths mostly lack empathy, they may retain some while psychopaths completely lack it all together. Research shows that psychopaths are more drawn to positions of power like lawyers, surgeons and law enforcement personnel. They are often found in the military as it gives them a legitimate outlet for their behaviours. Many CEOs have psychopathic tendencies as it pairs with a psychopath’s behavioural pattern of taking risks. Oliver James has written about this in his book, Office Politics. A sociopath’s inability to control themselves means they often can’t keep a job for very long or they tend to frequently switch careers. 

 

As with any personality disorder, psychopaths and sociopaths don't usually see issues with their behaviour, so they don’t identify the need for professional support. They generally will only end up in therapy as a result of, for example, a court order or if someone in their personal or professional life requires that they do. 

 

In conclusion, while sociopaths and psychopaths share many similar symptoms and behaviours, they differ when it comes to symptom management, social interaction, building relationships and maintaining career paths. 

 

If you feel you need support living or working with someone who has behavioural issues, get in touch here.