Sociopaths and psychopaths have some dangerous and troubling characteristics in common that make them a threat to others. However, it can be difficult to tell them apart. Although psychopathy and sociopathy are considered jointly under the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, there are some traits that allow you to distinguish between these two pathological states.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Identifying a Psychopath
Step 1. Pay attention to hereditary factors
Compared to sociopathy, psychopathy appears to be characterized by the genetic component. Try taking a family history and see if there are similar cases among siblings, parents or grandparents.
If you have some mental stability in the family group, the person is more likely to be a sociopath. However, if you find a strong analogy with family history, it could be psychopathy
Step 2. Identify manipulative behaviors
Psychopaths tend to be more manipulative than sociopaths. They are often seen as charming and intriguing individuals. They can give the impression of living a normal life and could minimize their dangerous attitudes, almost to the limit of legality. However, they can behave in an amiable or prosocial way to achieve their goals.
For example, they may avoid answering questions directly, blaming others, or making up elaborate stories to justify behavior and not take responsibility. They tend to plan their moves carefully: they get what they want through premeditated aggression
Step 3. Notice the lack of empathy
Even if a psychopath is charming, they are unlikely to be able to put themselves in others' shoes. It is unable to create authentic bonds and relationships with people. Even if she is in a relationship or a family, she is unlikely to genuinely express how she feels because she has learned to fake her emotions. However, not all psychopaths are numb; some are selfless and care about the people they love.
A psychopath can be completely emotionally detached. He can't understand why people can get upset or have a wide range of feelings
Step 4. See if he is capable of living a "normal" life
Psychopaths often have stable employment and a good level of education. They can have family and relationships without anyone suspecting their psychopathic tendencies. In people who lead "normal" lives, the symptoms associated with psychopathy may be less evident, but not so much through interpersonal or family relationships.
Co-workers or acquaintances may not suspect that they are dealing with a psychopath or think he is just a little "different"
Step 5. Notice if he pays a lot of attention to detail
When a psychopath commits a crime, they often meticulously plan all the details well in advance. He can perpetrate a crime calmly and coolly, carrying it out with scrupulous organization. For this reason, psychopaths are great scam artists because they know how to be detached, precise and strongly charismatic.
- For example, a psychopath can come up with a sophisticated plan to steal cars, money or other valuables without wavering, in a calculated and methodical manner.
- Remember that these characteristics can also have a positive value: for example, such a person could excel in a work environment that requires considerable attention to detail.
Part 2 of 3: Recognizing a Sociopath
Step 1. Find out if she has been abused
While psychopathy seems to be characterized by a strong genetic component, sociopathy seems to develop mainly based on environmental factors. For example, a sociopath might have grown up in a family or community where violence and misconduct were commonplace; he may have developed his psychopathology as a defense mechanism or reaction to the difficult conditions in which he lived.
A sociopath is much more likely to have had a traumatic childhood and had to adapt to the adversities of life
Step 2. Note aggressive behavior
While the psychopath is more sociable, charming and thoughtful, the sociopath can be more aggressive, angry and reckless. He can be even more violent than a psychopath and manifest more violent outbursts.
Step 3. Notice if he has unpredictable behavior
The sociopathic person is much more likely to behave recklessly, regardless of the possible consequences. While the psychopath tends to be meticulous and attentive to details, the sociopath is more careless and does not follow a set pattern; he does not think about the effects that could result from his actions nor does he foresee them. In general, he has more difficulties in keeping his job, lives on the fringes of society and is not a person with a high cultural level. He can constantly change jobs and move often.
The sociopath may decide to rob a bank and repeat the same crime without carefully organizing. The psychopath, on the other hand, spends weeks or months planning "the perfect crime"
Step 4. Analyze empathic skills
Unlike the psychopath, a sociopath tends to put himself in the shoes of others and feels guilty. It is able to create bonds with people or romantic relationships. He probably has no problem harming someone he doesn't know, but he can repent if he behaves this way with someone in his life.
Part 3 of 3: Examining Affinities
Step 1. Learn about antisocial personality disorder
This disorder clinically characterizes both the sociopath and the psychopath. The diagnosis should be made by a psychologist or therapist and be based on at least three of the following characteristics:
- Regularly breaking the law;
- Constantly lying or deceiving others;
- Being violent or aggressive
- Neglecting the safety or well-being of others;
- Irresponsibly dealing with money, work or other aspects of life;
- Don't feel remorse or guilt when engaging in destructive or offensive attitudes;
- Being unable to discern what is right and what is wrong;
- Lack of empathy.
Step 2. Learn to recognize prevalence and commonalities
Antisocial personality disorder is more common in men than in women and very prevalent in the prison population. In addition, those affected by this psychopathology may have alcohol problems or use drugs.
Step 3. Reconstruct the childhood of the person suffering from this disorder
Some people with antisocial personality disorder experience symptoms from childhood. Among the signs, it considers aggression towards people and animals, a lying attitude, destructive behavior towards objects belonging to others and problems of a legal nature. In childhood, these characteristics could be traced back to a diagnosis of conduct disorder.
