Sociopath Vs. Psychopath: Understanding the Differences

Sociopaths Vs. Psychopaths: 9 Key Differences

While sociopaths and psychopaths both have ASPD, certain traits are more common in psychopaths than in sociopaths. Psychopaths are often able to hide antisocial traits from others. Psychopathy is also believed to be caused by abnormalities in the brain, while sociopathy is believed to develop in response to early childhood experiences.^1,5,7

Below are nine differences between sociopaths and psychopaths:

1. Presence of a Conscience

Psychopaths are believed to not have a working conscience and are usually indifferent about causing harm to others. They don’t have a moral or ethical code of “right vs. wrong.” This makes them more willing to do things that most consider bad, wrong, or dangerous, even knowing the consequences.¹

While a psychopath has no conscience, a sociopath can sometimes feel remorse or guilt after doing something wrong. Usually, a sociopath’s conscience is weak and selectively used when certain things or people they care about are involved. In other situations, they may not feel guilty or bypass these feelings by making excuses, exceptions, or blaming others.^1,7

2. Calculated Vs. Impulsive

Psychopaths tend to plan and calculate their actions, but they are mostly indifferent to the consequences or possible harm that may result. They are pathological liars and masters of deception, mimicking normal emotions and prosocial behaviors to gain success, wealth, or positions of power.

Conversely, sociopaths are more outwardly hostile, angry, and aggressive, especially when they are upset. They lack goals and direction, get bored or distracted easily, and often give into momentary urges. This can make them more impulsive than psychopaths, thus creating more chaos, drama, and instability.

3. Ability to Maintain Relationships

Sociopaths may have a few people in their life who they genuinely care about, such as family members or like-minded individuals.¹ While they may want to maintain these relationships, they are often unable to due to their impulsive and hostile nature. This means the relationships they maintain are stormy and conflict-ridden.^1,7

A psychopath’s relationships are not based on love and true, safe intimacy but rather on a shared viewpoint that is self-serving. These relationships can perpetuate both partners to remain in their dysfunction, or worse, one of them feeling stuck in a cycle of abuse.

4. Life Maintenance

Sociopaths struggle to maintain their life in a structured and orderly way due to their unpredictable mood swings. These episodes can be very chaotic and disrupt the lives of the people around them. They are historically unreliable as people and are unable to keep any kind of commitment.

Psychopaths, on the other hand, are able to structure their life well—and though they have deep dysfunction within them, they are able to mask better and use their charm to get what they want. They have a history of lying, and that combined with a lack of empathy for others gives them a sense of accomplishment and independence.

5. Reasons for Behavior

Sociopaths tend to have the behaviors they do due to childhood trauma or genetic and/or environmental factors which play a role. Children who experience adverse childhood experiences are more likely to develop antisocial personality disorder and have sociopathic behaviors, however these behaviors can be treated (though it will be challenging).

Psychopaths tend to engage in these behaviors based on their core beliefs, and attempting to change those core beliefs in order for it to impact behavior is often futile. They don’t have an ability to form bonds with others, or feel love or empathy, and the absence of these human emotions makes their behavior go to extremes.

6. Ability to Form Emotional Attachments

Sociopaths may have a desire and need to form bonds with others, however their ability to maintain such bonds is unlikely. Their motive and drive for forming relationships is inspired by a need to control and manipulate others to gain something for themselves.

Psychopaths have little or no interest in developing relationships with people for the sake of connection. Their emotional detachment and lack of empathy make them unable to form deep bonds. When they do form relationships with someone, there is often an ulterior motive. When the person is no longer useful, they won’t hesitate to use, abuse, or discard them.^1,2

7. Range of Emotions

Sociopaths have feelings, but on a narrower scale than normal people.^1,2 In fact, sociopaths can be moody, irritable, and quick to get defensive or lash out at other people when they are stressed, suggesting they experience strong emotions. When they experience emotions like fear, shame, or guilt, they often become angry and defensive to avoid seeming vulnerable.

A psychopath’s ability to feel depends on the emotion. They have no ability to empathize with others or show remorse for their actions. Their charm may make it look like they are showing emotion, however that charm is a mask and they do not have the ability to love and express emotions.

8. Reactions to Being Under Pressure

Sociopaths are known to be more emotionally reactive and less able to control their actions. This makes it easier to spot a sociopath as they may be more obviously self-destructive. These self-destructive tendencies make them more likely to experience legal problems and more instability in their personal life, work, finances, and relationships.¹

In dangerous, scary, or stressful situations, psychopaths may be unusually calm and composed. This is because of abnormalities in their brains that restrict their ability to experience normal fear and stress responses. These are also believed to restrict a psychopath’s ability to experience other emotions like sadness, guilt, shame, and even positive emotions like joy or love.

9. Crime & Violence

Sociopaths are not necessarily violent, but they may use different tactics to cause harm. For example, they may use manipulation, gaslighting, or other forms of emotional abuse as their primary methods of hurting people.¹ While they are less likely to be sadistic, they may still find it entertaining or exciting to cause drama, chaos, or confusion. Therefore, they are more prone to interpersonal violence than physical.

Psychopaths commit more violent crimes than sociopaths overall.⁷ Their aggressive tendencies usually show up before age ten and may include frequent physical fights or cruelty to animals.⁷ Psychopaths may even feel drawn to violence, finding it exciting or getting some sadistic pleasure from it.

Another important difference between psychopaths and sociopaths is the reason for their criminal activity. Sociopaths may commit “crimes of passion” that stem from jealousy, anger, or revenge, rather than the cold-blooded, sadistic, or calculated crimes of a psychopath.^2,7 Psychopaths are also much more likely to be repeat offenders of violent crime and commit many offenses in their lifetime.^6,7

Psychopaths Vs. Sociopaths Vs. Narcissists

Psychopaths, sociopaths, and narcissists may have a lot of overlap, however they are distinctly different. Narcissists have a diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder and may have antisocial traits, which is why it is common to see many people who have NPD also be categorized in the same behavioral groups as those who exhibit psychopathic and sociopathic behaviors.

Psychopathy and sociopathy are not diagnoses. Those with antisocial personality disorder may have both sociopathic and psychopathic behaviors, however, often those with ASPD fall into sociopathic behaviors. Psychopaths are likely unable to engage in humanity the same way due to their core inability to relate to others. Both psychopaths and sociopaths can have narcissistic tendencies as well.

Psychopathy Vs. Sociopathy: Possible Causes

Psychopaths are believed to be born with certain genetic or neurological abnormalities that cause them to develop ASPD.^1,2,5,7 This may also explain why they display more antisocial traits and behaviors in early childhood, while the typical onset for a sociopath may be several years later.^1,5

Certain environmental or social triggers can further increase the risk for ASPD, but genes and biology play a major role in determining who becomes a psychopath. Sociopaths are believed to develop ASPD in response to specific early childhood experiences like poor or neglectful parenting, a lack of early attachments, and experiencing trauma at a young age.^1,2,5,7

Diagnosing Sociopaths & Psychopaths

While psychopathy and sociopathy are not diagnoses, many experts believe that these are more severe forms of antisocial personality disorder with distinct differences.^1,2,5,6,7 During a diagnostic assessment of ASPD, a therapist will ask questions about symptoms, traits, and behaviors, as well as any other mental health conditions.

Many antisocial symptoms are diagnosed as conduct disorder in children and teens. Symptoms are similar to ASPD and include behavior problems, aggression, and impulsivity. If these problems persist, it’s common for the diagnosis of conduct disorder to become antisocial personality disorder.⁴

According to the DSM 5, the criteria for ASPD include:⁴

• Individual is over the age of 18
• Conduct disorder was present before the age of 15
• Antisocial behavior is not related to another diagnosis, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
• A disregard for and intentional violation of others’ rights since age 15 in ways such as:
  • Failure to obey laws and norms by engaging in behavior which results in criminal arrest, or would warrant criminal arrest
  • Intentional deception or manipulation to achieve a goal or for self-gratification
  • Impulsivity
  • Aggression, violence against others, or fighting
  • Disregard for the safety and well-being of others
  • Lack of remorse
  • Ongoing pattern of irresponsibility

Treatment for Sociopaths & Psychopaths

ASPD is widely considered one of the most difficult disorders to treat. Because sociopaths and psychopaths have more severe forms of the condition, they often don’t respond well to therapy or other treatments. Their antisocial traits make them less likely to seek treatment on their own and can interfere with treatment when it’s mandated or required.^1,2,5,7

There is evidence that therapy for sociopathy and psychopathy can be advantageous.³ Many people begin their search for a therapist by using a free online directory that allows users to find the right therapist with specialized knowledge or training in personality disorders.

Here are treatment options for sociopathy and psychopathy:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT helps people challenge their thoughts and learn how to respond to them differently. The goal is that if they are able to change the way they think, they will behave differently as well.
• Mentalization-based therapy (MBT): MBT helps people think about why they think the way they do and how their thought process impacts their behaviors.
• Democratic therapeutic communities (DTC): DTC helps people learn how they can gain self awareness about the impact of their behaviors as well as psychoeducation on other ways to relate to others.
• Impulsive lifestyle counseling: This helps people learn how to become more self aware, understand their triggers, and identify their thoughts before they act on them.
• Medication: Medications can vary but the most common type of medications used for sociopathy and psychopathy are antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics.
• Group therapy: Group therapy helps people learn from one another, practice new techniques, and build community so people with these behaviors don’t feel so isolated.

Final Thoughts

Sociopaths and psychopaths both display signs, symptoms, and traits of antisocial personality disorder, a serious disorder closely linked to crime, violence, and other harmful behaviors. Knowing the common traits and tendencies of APSD can help you identify the signs of a sociopath or psychopath early. Avoiding close relationships with these individuals is recommended, since they’re more likely to behave in violent or abusive ways.