You may have heard these terms repeatedly: sociopath and psychopath. But what do they really mean and is there a significant difference between them? If you try to find the answer to these questions in specialized literature, you are unlikely to succeed. This is because medicine does not officially diagnose problems such as sociopathy or psychopathy. Instead, experts use the term "dissocial personality disorder." Most experts believe sociopaths and psychopaths share a similar set of traits. Both have a distorted view of good and bad deeds. Neither one nor the other can empathize with others. However, there are some differences between the two categories.
Lack and presence of conscience
The key difference between sociopaths and psychopaths is the presence or absence of conscience. Many of us are familiar with the phenomenon in which an inner voice warns us against wrong actions. When we start doing something wrong, we immediately understand it and stop. Psychopaths have no conscience. The psychopath can lie, dodge, steal money from other people, while not feeling any guilt. No amount of appeals to conscience can change his behavior.
Lack of empathy
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In order not to betray his true motives, the psychopath resorts to clever tricks that imitate the behavior of other people. This person is unusually observant and tends to try on different masks depending on different situations. So, with a short acquaintance, you will never know that this person is manipulating you. Also, you will not suspect him of a lack of empathy. All of this is not the case for sociopaths, who are also characterized by destructive behavior with one significant difference. This category of antisocial personalities, deceiving other people, understands that they are doing wrong. Sociopaths tend to feel guilty, but the desire for profit often outweighs. They can put themselves in the shoes of a deceived person, but they know how to turn on the reverse gear in time, remembering their main goal.
Respect for people
Psychopaths are not only unaware of empathy for others, they are unaware of feelings of respect. These people see in those around them only soulless objects that can and should be used for their own personal gain.
Cruelty
In various films and television programs, sociopaths and psychopaths are usually presented as real villains who torture and kill innocent people. In reality, only a small percentage of people with dissocial personality disorder are prone to excessive abuse. Most of them, in achieving their goals, are limited to sophisticated psychological manipulations. Craving for physical bullying is not at all inherent in them. Yes, among psychopaths there are cold and calculating killers. But most of all they are worried about climbing the career ladder, during which they can go over their heads.
Selfishness may not be a sign of dissocial personality disorder
It is a great misconception that people tend to put selfishness and dissocial personality disorder on the same level. These two terms are not equivalent. Selfish inclinations cannot indicate sociopathy or psychopathy. In order to diagnose a disorder, doctors use at least five different parameters. But it is extremely difficult for an ordinary person to recognize a psychopath among his environment. And all because sophisticated manipulators cleverly disguise their true emotions and intentions. They will smile when they meet you, while engaging in pleasant conversations. Very often they are endowed with high intelligence, natural charm and acting skills. All this allows them to masterfully manipulate other people for personal gain.
Choleric temperament
However, whatever the charm of sociopaths, they are completely devoid of the ability to mutually cooperate with colleagues or partners. They do not know how to interact in a team and always put their interests above all else. After talking with a sociopath, you will soon realize that this person is not interested in anything other than personal gain. Very often psychologists classify this type of personality as a choleric temperament.
Psychopaths have gone even further, mastering cold calculation and malice. They not only do not think about the feelings of other people, but they can use aggressive methods to achieve their goal. They develop long-term plans that take into account any small details. All of this helps them to remove any barriers that stand in their way.
Differences in the body's response to violence
Most people who watch bloody scenes of violence in the movies notice how the basic functions of the body change: breathing quickens, heart rate increases, palms sweat. The psychopath demonstrates the opposite reaction to someone else's misfortune. Seeing blood and suffering, he becomes calm. It is this quality that makes psychopaths forget about fear and not be afraid of the consequences of their reckless actions.
Inga Kaisina