Whats The Difference Between

[nailit]

a Psychopath and a sociopath?
Always assumed they were the same.
Thanks.

[Cloverjo]

A sociopath has a modicum of knowledge that he /she is doing wrong but does it anyway. A psychopath doesn't know and doesn't care.
Sociopath vs. Psychopath: What’s the Difference?
By Kara Mayer Robinson
WebMD Feature Reviewed by Joseph Goldberg, MD
You may have heard people call someone else a “psychopath” or a “sociopath.” But what do those words really mean?

You won’t find the definitions in mental health’s official handbook, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Doctors don’t officially diagnose people as psychopaths or sociopaths. They use a different term instead: antisocial personality disorder.

Most experts believe psychopaths and sociopaths share a similar set of traits. People like this have a poor inner sense of right and wrong. They also can’t seem to understand or share another person’s feelings. But there are some differences, too.

Do They Have a Conscience?
A key difference between a psychopath and a sociopath is whether he has a conscience, the little voice inside that lets us know when we’re doing something wrong, says L. Michael Tompkins, EdD. He's a psychologist at the Sacramento County Mental Health Treatment Center.


A psychopath doesn’t have a conscience. If he lies to you so he can steal your money, he won’t feel any moral qualms, though he may pretend to. He may observe others and then act the way they do so he’s not “found out,” Tompkins says.

A sociopath typically has a conscience, but it’s weak. He may know that taking your money is wrong, and he might feel some guilt or remorse, but that won’t stop his behavior.

Both lack empathy, the ability to stand in someone else’s shoes and understand how they feel. But a psychopath has less regard for others, says Aaron Kipnis, PhD, author of The Midas Complex. Someone with this personality type sees others as objects he can use for his own benefit.

[Sqad]

To you and me nailit, there are the same, but the forensic psychologists will have a ball game debating it.

[douglas9401]

The difference? 10-15 years.

[woofgang]

An interesting article here. Basically it contends that the differences between the two are self control and the reason for the mental state.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wicked-deeds/201401/how-tell-sociopath-psychopath

[beso]

And what about plain old misanthropists?

[woofgang]

that term beso says nothing about their ability to feel empathy, to have a conscience, to form connections with others.

[ummmm]

I think that's the difference....conscience.

[Old_Geezer]

Not the same thing. That should be a question about, what's the difference between a misanthropist and a realist ?

Anyway I always thought one used the label psychopath when one wasn't beating about the bush, and sociopath when not wishing to cause more offence than is inevitable.

[ummmm]

I think a sociopath cares after the event. A psychopath just doesn't care.

[Sqad]

They are basically both the same and the bottom line is although both may be treatable, there is no cure for either......so........who cares about the difference?

[nailit]

Thanks for replies all.

[Dahlia_Lama]

My immediate thought was a psychopath doesn't care about consequences and a sociopath cares about consequences

I'll now scroll back to see if I was was close...

[Auxarcs]

Sociopath: grasps the concepts of right and wrong and understands what society deems to be right or wrong, but doesnt care or it has no meaning for tgem, often gets a thrill from doing things considered wrong. Complete lack of a conscience or empathy, totally ammoral, but not considered crazy or incompetent. Thy can choose not to do what they do but just dont.
Psychopath: crazy, detached, does not grasp concept of right or wrong, at least not in the heat of the moment. Sone may later grasp what they did was wrong and may even be sorry. Others never do understand. Many are diven by other psychoisis as well.

[BroodLunaMoon]

Their sorta the same thing with some minor differences. I just ussed different terms for it at different times...