We’ve all at some point encountered that slightly different person who can be extra impulsive, easily upset and not thinking about the consequences of an action. But where do the boundaries really go for being able to talk about a sociopath or a psychopath? And how do they differ? Take a look below where we explain the concepts!
The words sociopath and psychopath are often used as synonyms and go by the name “dyssocial personality disorder”. In the US, they usually say sociopath instead of psychopath, but even though there are a lot of similarities, differences can also be distinguished. The American psychologist John Grahol has characterized different character traits of a sociopath. Among other things, he talks about the fact that a sociopath who commits a criminal act has no consequentialist thinking.
Is someone close to you charming and easy to talk to other people but at the same time lacks empathy for their fellow human beings? Then you can instead talk about a psychopath. Common behavior for a psychopath is that the person blames himself and others and also has difficulty accepting that he or she has a problem. The researchers believe that the behavior probably stems from the person’s upbringing and childhood, for example from a lack of care. Researchers also point out that there are several psychopaths today who live an ordinary life. That a psychopath is only associated with a brutal criminal is therefore not true. In other words, both a sociopath and a psychopath can have difficulty entering society and being understood by those around them.
Signs that you are a psychopath:
– You are very adventurous and in connection with this can put yourself and others in danger.
– You can easily become violent and exploit others, without feeling any remorse or guilt.
– Your self-image is strong and superior and you can see others as weak.
Signs that you are instead a sociopath (according to John Grahol):
– You are erratic and impulsive.
– You find it difficult to bond with people.
– A sociopath usually has no work for a few extended periods at a time.
– The sociopath has no family.
– You have violent outbursts that can come from anger and upset.
Source: Illustrated Science (sociopath, psycho) & The psychologist’s guide
