Sociopathy vs. Psychopathy

Many people do not realize what the major differences are between a sociopath and psychopath. It is important to educate everyone on the differences between the two types of conditions. Even if you are not worried about diagnosing yourself or someone around you with the condition, it is always important to know what others may be dealing with. It would be highly suggested that you continue reading this article to get a general idea on what differentiates people with sociopathy from people with psychopathy.

There are some commonalities for individuals that are sociopaths and individuals that are psychopaths but there are still many differences. You cannot label all individuals under the same category as a sociopath could be characterized as completely different from a psychopath in some cases. It is very true that the two types of people are very similar in many ways but it is important to know that there are differences as well.

Commonalities in Sociopaths and Psychopaths
First, it would be important for you to look at some of the areas where sociopaths and psychopaths share similar traits. The very first characteristic would be that both individuals suffering from sociopathy and psychopathy are completely apathetic. It is common for this characteristic to be prominent by the time that the patient reaches 15 years of age. A possible sign of this trait would be the individual causing pain for animals. It is expected that these characteristics will worsen and progress and eventually the cruelty to animals could turn to humans.

Both sociopaths and psychopaths will experience severe behavioral issues. The general public will not be accepting to sociopaths and psychopaths due to their emotional and behavioral differences. It may even be difficult to be accepting to your loved ones if they have either of these conditions as it affects how they treat you. It may be understandable that there is no fault to be put on the patient with the condition but it can be very frustrating if you have a sociopath or psychopath in your care.

There is a lack of feelings of remorse, shame, and guilt in both sociopaths and psychopaths. It is almost as if the patient will have no conscience or emotions at all. The smallest bit of emotion that can be noticed will usually be for that individual and not for anyone else. It is very common for sociopaths and psychopaths to be selfish, only caring about their well being and willing to damage others in order to better theirs. Laws, rules, morals, and ethics are usually no barrier for both sociopaths and psychopaths. Due to this, the life of the sociopath or psychopath and the lives of people around him or her are constantly at risk.

Differences between Sociopaths and Psychopaths
The character of a sociopath is considered less organized sculpted than the character of a psychopath. A sociopath has a more difficult time living in society and is more likely to make impulsive actions towards others and their surroundings. Poor decision-making often occurs by sociopaths as they do not put much thought into what they are planning on doing.

The character of a psychopath is considered well organized and sculpted when compared to the character of a sociopath. It is much easier for a psychopath to hide their condition and use it to manipulate others as well. You could look at historical figures such as Adolf Hitler, Charles Manson, and more to see examples of psychopaths that managed to go undetected for a while. Psychopaths can present themselves with friendly and charming personalities. It is not very difficult for a psychopath to hide their true self and bottle up their emotions until it is time to finally release them. Psychopaths also do not have real feelings for others around them but they can copy the behaviors of other individuals and be undetected for their apathetic ways for quite a while.

Succeeding in Life – Sociopath vs. Psychopath
While both a sociopath and psychopath will have major difficulties when attempting to live a normal life, it is possible. There will be the need for extensive therapy to prevent any major self-harm or harm to others. There will always be issues that surface, as these conditions will not just go away. When comparing the two, a psychopath is much more likely to be capable of living in society and appearing normal to the rest of the world. However, a psychopath is likely to cause much more damage to others than a sociopath would.

Psychopaths are capable of attaining a high education, well paying job, and even maintain a healthy family relationship. All of this is really achieved by copying behavior that is existent in healthy individuals that surround them.

Sociopaths and psychopaths are similar in many ways but there are also many differences. This article has just touched on some of the major commonalities and differences of the two types of people. It is obviously clear that a psychopath is more capable of hiding their true identity. It is also obviously clear that a sociopath is a much more spontaneous and illogical individual. Both can cause a serious amount of harm to themselves and people around them but they usually do so in a different manner.

It is highly recommended that you continue reading up on the mentality of sociopaths and psychopaths if you really want to get a strong understanding on the similarities and differences between the two types of people.

Last updated on Jun 25th, 2011 and filed under Mental Health. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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