Sociopath Vs Psychopaths

psychopaths and sociopaths both stem from antisocial personality disorder. “Antisocial personality disorder (APD) is a clinical diagnosis that includes both psychopaths and sociopaths as antisocial personality types.”(www.http://depressiond.com) This being the case,it often confuses people on their characteristics. Psychopaths and sociopaths are integrated in society to a certain extent which leaves no true definition in a person's mind. Both disorders are similar in some aspects but do have some distinct differances. Understanding these two mental disorders, allows society to make a clear distiction. Sociopaths live among us. “Recent estimates say that 1 % to 4% of the population, or one in every twenty-five people,is a sociopath-thats higher than the percentage of people who have anorexia or autism.” (Thomas,4).This study sounds alarming but if examined closely,in actualatity it isnt as scary as it sounds. Sociopaths show emotion but only if necessary. If a sociopath realizes that they will gain from giving empathy or any other emotion they will in fact act upon it. CEOs of companies and even members within a church can be sociopaths. Movies and books, influences societys view on sociopaths; usually, casting a negective light on the whole subject.Hollywood has often portrait sociopaths as
psychopaths or vise versa; but pyschopaths are different than sociopaths.Sociopaths are actually people who suffer from antisocial personality disorder . It is believed to be a “result from complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors.”( http://www.md-health.com) It is defined as “a mental health condition in which a person has a long term pattern of manipulating exploiting or violating the rights of others.”(http://www.md-health.com). Psychopaths on the other hand, are born possessing emotional differences that source the conduct of risk seeking, impulsiveness, fearlessness as well as incapability to socialize in any typical fashion. “Research has shown psychopaths have underdeveloped components of the brain commonly thought to be responsible for emotion regulation and impulse control.”(www.psychcentral.com)This simply means that they do not and canot blend into society properly. Movies protray pyscopaths as heartless serial killers. Although pyscopaths are for the most part emotionless, it doesnt automatically classify them as a serial killer. Unlike sociopaths, pyscopaths cant live normally among people because they cant distgunish the emotions that play in a daily day. Its hard to say if they can understand consequences but pyscopaths usually act in order to gain. Pyscopaths understand human behavior and emotion merily by observation. The only differnce is they do not feel emotions which explains why they dont feel remorse for their actions. The only remorse they would feel would be getting caught in their crime,
Moving on, some behaviorial characteristics that both pyscopaths and sociopaths contain are manipulativeness, impulsivity, and deceitfulness.
Usually,pyscopaths are born with these tendancies but sociopaths develop theses traits. Both goals are to achieve or gain something out of the situation so they are both selfish. Self-esteem also plays a big role in each character. Sociopaths at times consider themselves superior and if they feel threaten they will act on it. Pyscopath’s lack of conscious allows them to view themselves in a normal sense. If their unsual behavior is pointed out, a pyscopath will consider them an enemy becuase they have abused their self
esteem. Neverless,they have more differences than similarities.Sociopaths act on impulse which leasds to carelesss acts. Since they act on impulse, it makes them very unorganized. Pyscopaths tend to plan and stragetise. They perfer to be organized and thry think things through.pyscopaths can also have a family and maintain a steady job unlike a sociopath. Sociopaths in their constant struggle to reach their goal often can’t maintain a steady job or relationship. When it comes to violences,sociopaths will leave clues because of their carelessness. Pyscopaths can act completely normal but can plot horrific crimes.