What's the Difference Between a Psychopath and a Sociopath?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSociopathy vs. PsychopathyDevelopmentSigns of Psychopathy vs. SociopathyTreatmentPsychopaths and Sociopaths vs. NarcissistsIf Someone You Know Has APD

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Sociopathy vs. Psychopathy

Development

Signs of Psychopathy vs. Sociopathy

Treatment

Psychopaths and Sociopaths vs. Narcissists

If Someone You Know Has APD

Close

Although sociopath and psychopath are often used interchangeably and may overlap, each has its own clear lines of distinction. For example, sociopathy is the unofficial term forantisocial personality disorder(APD), while psychopathy is not an official diagnosis and is not considered an APD.

“Sociopaths are generally more clearly aligned with symptoms of APD, but psychopathy can cross over to these characteristics as well,” saysHannah Owens, LMSW. “Labeling someone as a sociopath or a psychopath is a big deal - but not distinguishing between the two, and using them interchangeably, doesn’t do either of you much good.”

Sociopaths are generally more clearly aligned with symptoms of APD, but psychopathy can cross over to these characteristics as well.—HANNAH OWENS, LMSW

Sociopaths are generally more clearly aligned with symptoms of APD, but psychopathy can cross over to these characteristics as well.

—HANNAH OWENS, LMSW

Sociopath is a term people use, often arbitrarily, to describe someone who is apparently withoutconscienceand is hateful or hate-worthy. The term psychopath is used to convey a sociopath who is simply more dangerous, like a mass murderer.

1:58Click Play to Learn the Difference Between Psychopaths and Sociopaths

1:58

Click Play to Learn the Difference Between Psychopaths and Sociopaths

Sociopathy vs. Psychopathy

SociopathMake it clear they do not care how others feelsBehave in hot-headed and impulsive waysProne to fits of anger and rageRecognize what they are doing but rationalize their behaviorCannot maintain a regular work and family lifeCan form emotional attachments, but it is difficultPsychopathPretend to careDisplay cold-hearted behaviorFail to recognize other people’s distressHave relationships that are shallow and fakeMaintain a normal life as a cover for criminal activityFail to form genuine emotional attachmentsMay love people in their own way

SociopathMake it clear they do not care how others feelsBehave in hot-headed and impulsive waysProne to fits of anger and rageRecognize what they are doing but rationalize their behaviorCannot maintain a regular work and family lifeCan form emotional attachments, but it is difficult

Make it clear they do not care how others feels

Behave in hot-headed and impulsive ways

Prone to fits of anger and rage

Recognize what they are doing but rationalize their behavior

Cannot maintain a regular work and family life

Can form emotional attachments, but it is difficult

PsychopathPretend to careDisplay cold-hearted behaviorFail to recognize other people’s distressHave relationships that are shallow and fakeMaintain a normal life as a cover for criminal activityFail to form genuine emotional attachmentsMay love people in their own way

Pretend to care

Display cold-hearted behavior

Fail to recognize other people’s distress

Have relationships that are shallow and fake

Maintain a normal life as a cover for criminal activity

Fail to form genuine emotional attachments

May love people in their own way

Willem H.J. Martens argues in his infamous article “The Hidden Suffering of the Psychopath” that psychopaths do at times suffer from emotional pain and loneliness. Most have lead hurt-filled lives and have an inability to trust people, but like every human being on the planet, they, too, want to be loved and accepted.

Recognizing the differences between sociopathy and psychopathy can and should affect the way you interact with this person, your expectations of them, and measures you might need to take to protect yourself from their negative or harmful attributes and behaviors.—HANNAH OWENS, LMSW

Recognizing the differences between sociopathy and psychopathy can and should affect the way you interact with this person, your expectations of them, and measures you might need to take to protect yourself from their negative or harmful attributes and behaviors.

How to Spot a Narcissistic Sociopath

Approach to Violence

With that being said, people with APD will often go to extraordinary lengths to manipulate others, whether it be to charm, disarm, or frighten them, in order to get what they want. When psychopaths do becomeviolent, as in the case of someone like Jeffrey Dahmer, they’re just as likely to hurt themselves as others.

Martens notes that the more a psychopath feels socially isolated, sad, and alone, the higher his or her risk for violence and impulsive and/or reckless behavior.

Origins and Development

A well-regarded study into psychopathy suggested that psychopaths often have a history of an unstable family life and/or were raised in poorer neighborhoods prone to violence. Many have had parents who were substance abusers and who failed to provide parental guidance or attention.

This typically translates to unstable and failed relationships in adulthood and a fixated sense that you have been “robbed” of opportunities and advantages afforded to everyone else. Sociopathy also tends to be associated withharmful childhood experiences, includingsexual abuse, physical violence, or parental instability.

Sociopaths have a conscience, albeit a weak one, and will often justify something they know to be wrong. By contrast, psychopaths will believe that their actions are justified and feel no remorse for any harm done.

Self-Functioning Characteristics

Self-functioning characteristics are those that reflect what a person is like and how that person views his or her actions or goals. In order to be diagnosed with APD, you must exhibit all of the following characteristics:

Interpersonal Characteristics

Interpersonal characteristics are those that describe how a person interacts with others in general. You must also exhibit these traits to be diagnosed with APD:

Behavioral Characteristics

APD has no cure or first-line recommended treatment.Instead, therapeutic strategies often focus on problematic behavior, coping skills, and comorbidities such as substance use disorders. Typical approaches include:

Despite common usage and some overlap of features, not all people with narcissism are sociopaths/psychopaths, and not all sociopaths/psychopaths are narcissists.

However, DSM-5 classifies both antisocial and narcissistic personality disorders ascluster B personality disorders, a category that also comprisesborderlineandhistrionic personality disorders.

In practical application to daily life, the main differences lie in the person’s intent. People with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) are self-serving; they exaggerate their self-importance, crave constant praise, go to great lengths to feed their ego, and are exceedingly concerned with image

For these reasons, narcissists often appear to be successful and high-functioning. Unlike sociopaths, some narcissists are capable of empathy and remorse. People whom the narcissist hurts are merely unintended casualties on the way to a desired result.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) estimates the prevalence of NPD at 0% to 6.2% of the population.

On the other hand, sociopaths intend to harm others and often derive pleasure in the act. They aren’t concerned with what others think of them; they lack the narcissist’s preoccupation with image, which frequently translates to an inability to hold a job and maintain relationships.

The APA estimates the rate of APD at 0.2-3.3%. It’s most common among men who have alcohol and/or substance use disorder, those in prison and other forensic settings, and those living in poverty and other adverse conditions.

If a friend or loved one shows signs of antisocial personality disorder, it can be very difficult for them to get the help they may need. In many cases, they may not accept or acknowledge that there is even an issue with their behavior.

At a certain point, you may have to decide if the relationship is worth preserving. Set clear boundaries, and make it known that you will stick to them, even if it means cutting ties. Letting someone go may be one of the hardest things you’ll ever have to do, but ultimately it may be for the best. As always, it’s most important to take care of yourself and your needs, and surround yourself with people who enrich your life, support you, and appreciate your support of them.

7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Martens W.The hidden suffering of the psychopath.Psychiatric Times.2014;31(10).Martens W.Antisocial and psychopathic personality disorders: causes, course, and remission: a review article.Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2000;44:406-430. doi:10.1177/0306624X00444002Black D.The natural history of antisocial personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry.2015;60(7):309-14. doi:10.1177/070674371506000703Bateman A, O’Connell J, Lorenzini N, Gardner T, Fonagy P.A randomised controlled trial of mentalization-based treatment versus structured clinical management for patients with comorbid borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder.BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16(1):304.doi:10.1186/s12888-016-1000-9Pearce S, Scott L, Attwood G, et al.Democratic therapeutic community treatment for personality disorder: Randomised controlled trial.The British Journal of Psychiatry. 2017;210(2):149-156. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.116.184366Thylstrup B, Hesse M.The impulsive lifestyle counseling program for antisocial behavior in outpatient substance abuse treatment.Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2016;60(8):919-935. doi:10.1177/0306624X11416331APA, 2022.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Washington: American Psychiatric Publications Inc, p.659.Additional ReadingAmerican Psychiatric Association (APA). (2012)DSM-IV and DSM-5 Criteria for the Personality Disorders.Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: APA.

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Martens W.The hidden suffering of the psychopath.Psychiatric Times.2014;31(10).Martens W.Antisocial and psychopathic personality disorders: causes, course, and remission: a review article.Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2000;44:406-430. doi:10.1177/0306624X00444002Black D.The natural history of antisocial personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry.2015;60(7):309-14. doi:10.1177/070674371506000703Bateman A, O’Connell J, Lorenzini N, Gardner T, Fonagy P.A randomised controlled trial of mentalization-based treatment versus structured clinical management for patients with comorbid borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder.BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16(1):304.doi:10.1186/s12888-016-1000-9Pearce S, Scott L, Attwood G, et al.Democratic therapeutic community treatment for personality disorder: Randomised controlled trial.The British Journal of Psychiatry. 2017;210(2):149-156. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.116.184366Thylstrup B, Hesse M.The impulsive lifestyle counseling program for antisocial behavior in outpatient substance abuse treatment.Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2016;60(8):919-935. doi:10.1177/0306624X11416331APA, 2022.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Washington: American Psychiatric Publications Inc, p.659.Additional ReadingAmerican Psychiatric Association (APA). (2012)DSM-IV and DSM-5 Criteria for the Personality Disorders.Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: APA.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Martens W.The hidden suffering of the psychopath.Psychiatric Times.2014;31(10).Martens W.Antisocial and psychopathic personality disorders: causes, course, and remission: a review article.Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2000;44:406-430. doi:10.1177/0306624X00444002Black D.The natural history of antisocial personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry.2015;60(7):309-14. doi:10.1177/070674371506000703Bateman A, O’Connell J, Lorenzini N, Gardner T, Fonagy P.A randomised controlled trial of mentalization-based treatment versus structured clinical management for patients with comorbid borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder.BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16(1):304.doi:10.1186/s12888-016-1000-9Pearce S, Scott L, Attwood G, et al.Democratic therapeutic community treatment for personality disorder: Randomised controlled trial.The British Journal of Psychiatry. 2017;210(2):149-156. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.116.184366Thylstrup B, Hesse M.The impulsive lifestyle counseling program for antisocial behavior in outpatient substance abuse treatment.Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2016;60(8):919-935. doi:10.1177/0306624X11416331APA, 2022.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Washington: American Psychiatric Publications Inc, p.659.

Martens W.The hidden suffering of the psychopath.Psychiatric Times.2014;31(10).

Martens W.Antisocial and psychopathic personality disorders: causes, course, and remission: a review article.Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2000;44:406-430. doi:10.1177/0306624X00444002

Black D.The natural history of antisocial personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry.2015;60(7):309-14. doi:10.1177/070674371506000703

Pearce S, Scott L, Attwood G, et al.Democratic therapeutic community treatment for personality disorder: Randomised controlled trial.The British Journal of Psychiatry. 2017;210(2):149-156. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.116.184366

Thylstrup B, Hesse M.The impulsive lifestyle counseling program for antisocial behavior in outpatient substance abuse treatment.Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2016;60(8):919-935. doi:10.1177/0306624X11416331

APA, 2022.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Washington: American Psychiatric Publications Inc, p.659.

American Psychiatric Association (APA). (2012)DSM-IV and DSM-5 Criteria for the Personality Disorders.Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: APA.

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