The Psychopath and The Sociopath

Popular crime shows, such as the long-spanning series ‘Criminal Minds’, often use the terms psychopath and sociopath interchangeably to describe the criminal featured in various episodes. Despite the common use of the terminology, it is still difficult to explain what defines a psychopath and sociopath, and what differentiates them from each other.

Firstly, there are some points of commonality that could be used to explain why two terms are frequently mixed up. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), psychopathy and sociopathy are both diagnosed as antisocial personality disorder since they share similar characteristics such as disregard for others’ rights and an inability to conform to laws and social norms (Perez, 2012). Psychopaths and sociopaths are also known for being manipulative (Perez, 2012), which is why people find it harder to trust a known psychopath or sociopath as they fear that they are being controlled by these individuals.

There are also key distinctions between psychopaths and sociopaths such as their origins: genetics and the environment. The psychopath is born, with a neurological defect that render them unable to feel empathy and emotions (Pemment, 2013). While they are able to fake emotions by learning expected social cues, the psychopath cannot feel genuine feelings due to their genetic abnormalities. On the other end of the spectrum, the sociopath is created, molded by environmental factors such as early childhood abuse and trauma that stuns their emotional development (Pemment, 2013). Unlike a psychopath, a sociopath is still able to feel empathy, and remorse to a certain extent which allows them to forge genuine relationships with others.

The existence of these peculiarities matter when we examine the type of crimes that a psychopath or sociopath might commit. Crimes committed by a sociopath is usually of a more erratic nature, such as an unplanned burst of violence (Grohol, 2020) making it easier for law enforcement to apprehend them. The psychopath is more dangerous as they do not feel guilt for their actions (Grohol, 2020), which means they are more calculated and less likely to leave behind incriminating evidence. Thus, it would be more difficult to successfully arrest a psychopath than a sociopath due the nature of their crime. Overall, it is essential to note that while psychopaths and sociopaths are not inherently violent, their limited emotional capacity and disinclination to obey social norms results in a greater likelihood to break the law.

REFERENCES:

1. Grohol, J. (2020). Differences Between a Psychopath vs Sociopath. Psych Central. Retrieved 18 October 2020, from https://psychcentral.com/blog/differences-between-a-psychopath-vs-sociopath/#footnote_0_70283.

2. Pemment, J. (2013). Psychopathy versus sociopathy: Why the distinction has become crucial. Aggression And Violent Behavior, 18(5), 458-461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2013.07.001

3. Perez, P. R. (2012). The etiology of psychopathy: A neuropsychological perspective. Aggression And Violent Behavior, 17(6), 519-522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2012.07.006