The Hollywood makes full use of these two terms, but the psychopathy is often confused with sociopathy on the big screen. It is good to know that these labels mean two different things.
The common element, between sociopathy and psychopathy, lies in diagnosis. Both, have root in the antisocial personality disorder and are characterized by three or more of the following statements:
– There is a total lack of respect for the law and social norms and their constant violation.
– Using lies and deception about others.
– Impulsiveness and lack of a plan.
– Aggressive and violent tendencies.
– Lack of interest in the safety of others.
– Irresponsibility and failure to honor, financial responsibilities.
– Lack of “the sense of guilt.”
In both cases, the symptoms are present before the age of 15 years. At the beginning of adulthood, the behavioral disorder turns into an antisocial personality disorder.
Psychopathy is believed to have genetic factors. It is inherited, unlike sociopathy that is influenced by environmental factors. Specific areas of the brain dealing with: controlling impulse and regulating emotions are different in the minds of the psychopaths from the brains of ordinary people.
The psychopaths cannot form emotional attachment relationships with others, but, they can mimic these relationships exceptionally well. For the outside, they seem to be jumble, sociable, trustworthy, delightful. They tend to have stable families and jobs and mostly educated, people. Examples of psychopaths are serial killer Ted Bundy and Patrick Bateman of the American Psycho book.
The environment influences the sociopathy. The sociopath formed as a result of childhood trauma, psychological abuse or life in a toxic family environment. Sociopaths are more impulsive and chaotic than psychopaths. Although they have the same difficulties, in dealing with others, emotionally, they can attach themselves to a person or group, which has the same interests. They have a great deal of difficulty in maintaining a job or setting up a family.
When the sociopath is acting, it does it for its sake and acts impulsively. Unlike the psychopath, he does not plan his actions carefully and does not have a backup plan in the case of illegal activities. They are more agitated, anxious, chaotic, occasionally bursting with rage. They risk a lot, without thinking, for their safety.
Examples of sociopaths are “The Joker,” the Batman series of movies, or Alex Delarge in “A Clockwork Orange” book.
It should note that movies and books have distorted the terms of sociopathy and softening by associating them with crimes. Not all sociopaths and psychopaths are serial killers. Not all psychopaths are intelligent killers, who escape among the fingers of the law. The truth is, in most cases, they are fast caught, and are far from the image of the killer who is capable and charming.
Unlike the sociopath, the psychopath can detach more quickly and efficiently from his actions, feeling less empathy than the sociopath and engaging emotionally to a lesser degree. Most serial killers were psychopaths. Because they plan their steps in detail, the psychopaths, are more dangerous than sociopaths, and they are caught with more difficulty when they break the law.
Both types are hazardous, but the psychopath is more feared than the sociopath, for it has no chance of recovery. With good hours of psychotherapy, a sociopath can be brought back to life if he/her wants to.
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