For years, thanks to media and other interpretations, people have thrown the terms psychopath and sociopath around casually. They usually denote an inability to relate to other people, a noticeable lack of emotions, and manifest in aberrant behavior that goes against societal norms. Furthermore, these labels connotate people who feel no remorse for their actions, however destructive or violent. While all these aspects are true to an extent, the differences between a psychopath and a sociopath are notable.
What makes these psychological classifications so alluring to people and media is the alien-like nature of the diagnoses. Since emotions, conscientiousness, and empathy are baked into most people, the idea of someone incapable of all these normal feelings darkly attracts people’s interest even as it defies understanding. At a scientific level, however, psychopaths and sociopaths are very real and can be destructive or dangerous.
Though the medical community has shied away from these labels in recent years, they still denote all too real and complex psychological phenomena. Furthermore, there’s a good chance you know at least one of them. In this article, we will explore the different ways to tell the difference between a psychopath and a sociopath. Some of them might surprise you.
To compile a list explaining the difference between psychopath and sociopath, 24/7 Tempo consulted a range of health, psychology, and lifestyle websites including VeryWellHealth.com, SimplyPsychology.com, and Talkspace. Next, we selected aspects of each classification’s traits that showed marked differences from each other, while keeping in mind the similarities shared. After that, we confirmed aspects of the information using sites like WebMD.com. (For other alarm bells about your mind, neglecting your mental health.)
Psychopath definition
While terms like psychopath and sociopath fell out of medical use decades ago, that doesn’t mean they don’t denote specific variances in anti-social behavior. A psychopath is often cunning, manipulative, and calculating in their actions. They maintain a veneer of normalcy to accomplish whatever their goals may be. What’s more, a psychopath clings to that veneer of normalcy. They keep their emotions in check, even in explosive arguments. They may also underreact, especially in dangerous or life-threatening situations.
This ‘underreaction’ manifests in much of a psychopath’s behavior. In a sense, this temperance of emotion underplays the entirety of the psychopath’s game. They are simply out for themselves, whatever the cost, and feel no remorse for their actions, however destructive or vile. Due to their lack of emotion and lack of care, they ironically often do well in the professional world. This doesn’t mean that psychopaths fly completely under the radar, however. While psychopaths make up about 1% of the population, experts believe that the U.S. prison population consists of about 15%-25% psychopaths. Other research suggests that psychopaths are 15 to 25 times more likely than the average person to break the law and end up in some kind of prison facility.
Sociopath definition
While a psychopath moves with a cold calculation through life, a sociopath acts in more volatile ways. On the whole, they are more aggressive, impulsive, and chaotic than their psychopath counterparts. Whereas psychopaths feel next to no remorse for any of their actions, the sociopath feels a bit of remorse. This feeling, however, is quickly justified in the sociopath’s mind. When pressed by others, a sociopath reacts much more aggressively and violently than a psychopath.
Compared to a psychopath, the sociopath lives a much more unstable life. This is often marked by extensive legal issues or personal problems that follow them. Both types exploit people for their own gain, however, the sociopath fails to establish the same type of normal veneer that a psychopath does naturally.
In simple terms, a sociopath is much more easy to spot due to their chaos and impulsive reactivity. A psychopath has a better chance of slipping under the radar of people’s perceptions, as they seem to play the long game better than sociopaths, who often move through the world impulsively without much care for appearance.
Anti-Social Personality Disorder (ASPD)
As previously mentioned, terms like psychopath and sociopath have fallen out of medical use in recent years. Instead, psychologists and mental health professionals use the more general, umbrella term of anti-social personality disorder to account for psychopathic and sociopathic behaviors. Put simply, ASPD denotes behavior that goes against socially acceptable standards.
This includes habitual law-breaking, and feeling little remorse when doing something considered wrong by society. The ASPD constellation of symptoms includes pathological lying or manipulation, committing crimes, risk-taking, few personal relationships, and an inability to maintain a job or complete schoolwork.
Though psychopaths tend to fare better in society than sociopaths, psychologists prefer to use the ASPD diagnoses. Plus, while people may exhibit these traits early in life, a formal diagnosis cannot be made till said person is at least 18 years of age. If the behavior manifests to sizeable levels in adolescence, mental health professionals opt for a diagnosis called “Conduct Disorder” which mirrors the ASPD diagnosis in many respects.
Root Causes: Psychopath
The common phrase denoting the difference between psychopaths and sociopaths is that “psychopaths are born, while sociopaths are made.” This isn’t entirely true, but speaks to certain key differences between the two classifications. Scientists and psychologists associate Psychopathy with dysfunction in the part of the brain called the amygdala.
Not only does this part of the brain regulate emotions, it helps people react appropriately to dangerous or threatening events in their lives. Furthermore, other changes to the structure of the brain are associated with psychopathy. These include differences in the paralimbic structure, prefrontal cortex, and temporal cortex. It should be noted, however, that while psychopathic traits may come from brain structure differences, they are cemented by unstable or violent childhoods and upbringings.
Root Causes: Sociopath
While sociopaths may be that way naturally, due to differences in brain structure like psychopaths, the environment seems to play a much larger role in the formation of sociopaths. Kids raised in unstable homes with chaotic upbringings often tend towards sociopathy. Children who experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse are more likely to become sociopaths upon maturity.
Children who faced serious neglect or failed to develop intimate bonds with primary caregivers early in life are also more likely to become sociopaths. It should be noted, however, that not all abused children become sociopaths. Furthermore, not all sociopaths face adversity or abuse in childhood. Other mental health diagnoses such as narcissism or borderline personality disorder share many of the same characteristics as sociopathy, making the diagnosis process somewhat murky and ambiguous.
Behavior: Psychopath
As previously mentioned, a psychopath plays the game of life in a cold, calculating way. While they feel little to no emotions, they appear charming, even likable, but only insofar as they can use these behaviors to use other people to their benefit. A psychopath will lie indiscriminately and take excessive risks. If for one reason or another, a psychopath is exposed for their behavior, they will show little to no remorse.
Furthermore, they will not attempt to justify their behavior as they do not consider it wrong in any way. Due to the complicated stew of nature versus nurture, not all psychopaths cause problems. While the idea that most Fortune 500 CEOS are psychopaths fails to find scientific agreement, psychopaths are more likely to pursue careers of a risk-taking variety such as those in the realms of extreme sports, emergency first responders, and other high-intensity, dangerous jobs.
Behavior: Sociopath
A sociopath, on the other hand, fails to control their behavior in the same way as a psychopath. The label shows itself most flagrantly through impulsivity, wild and unpredictable mood swings, and often, physical aggression. Whereas a psychopath moves like a predator, calculating each move for their gain, a sociopath fails to handle their behavior in the same way. They are more akin to wounded animals. When cornered, they will respond chaotically and violently. This shows itself in the excessive law-breaking undertaken by a sociopath.
Relationships: Psychopath
At a superficial glance, it’s hard to spot a psychopath, but with a little digging under the surface, it becomes more apparent. This manifests itself in their interpersonal relationships as well. A psychopath feels an inability to love or care for other people in a normal way. While they normally avoid forming bonds with others, this doesn’t stop them from undertaking normal relationships with others.
A psychopath, however, does not treat a relationship as anything but a means to an end. Furthermore, psychopath’s sadistic tendencies can articulate themselves in how they treat others closest to them. They act mercilessly, without remorse, and are willing to use any relationship to their benefit with little care for how the other party feels or is treated.
Relationships: Sociopath
While a psychopath will avoid most relationships, only undertaking those that serve the highest benefit, a sociopath undertakes relationships more often. These pairings, however, often manifest through dramatic, explosive encounters, bold-faced lying, and other issues. A sociopath does not avoid relationships but almost always fails to maintain them.
Instability generally defines a sociopath, and this is evident in their relationships. They are unreliable, irresponsible, and fail to maintain bonds healthily. While a psychopath maneuvers relationships cooly, with a calculated sense of will, a sociopath fails to develop relationships that proceed in healthy, consistent ways.
Violence: Psychopath
While the media portrays both types as being quick to violence, this fails to find footing in reality. A psychopath has sadistic tendencies, but these often manifest more in psychological games than outright violence. Psychopaths will go to excessive lengths to charm, manipulate, obfuscate, and exploit others but usually through more subtle means than physicality. When a psychopath, feels increasingly isolated, sad, or alone, however, the risk of their behavior becoming violent or more impulsive increases.
Violence: Sociopath
A sociopath, on the other hand, can be violent more often. This, however, usually comes as a reactive element to their psyche. They will charm, manipulate, and exploit like the best of psychopaths. When exposed, however, a psychopath usually maintains their cool better. When other people expose a sociopath for their behavior, they will be heavily reactive. This is often marked by violence, or at the very least physical aggression and dramatics. (For violence committed by psychopaths and sociopaths, prolific serial killers in history.)
Treatment: Psychopath
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Unfortunately, neither a psychopath nor a sociopath responds well to most treatments. Both classifications see nothing wrong with themselves or their behavior, so psychological treatment often fails to change their behaviors. A psychopath has trouble relating to other people and their emotions. While psychotherapy or medication may provide some relief of symptoms, it can’t fully alleviate the behaviors. It’s next to impossible, however, to “cure” someone of this diagnosis.
Treatment: Sociopath
As previously mentioned, a sociopath does not respond well to treatment. Much like psychopaths, they are hard to treat effectively. It is believed, however, that if a potentially sociopathic person is treated early in life, there is a chance of mitigating the more severe characteristics. Furthermore, aspects of a sociopath’s behavior like aggressiveness, mood swings, and impulsivity may be relieved through the use of different drugs like psychostimulants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers. (For other alarm bells about your well-being, discover warning signs that you’re in denial about your physical health.)