WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SOCIOPATH AND A PSYCHOPATH?
Psychopath and sociopath are two words that have been very often used by the present generation. Although the exact meaning or definition of these words haven’t been described in the science research literature, hence not a official diagnosis but just two terms often used together to describe a person as antisocial or dangerously weird.
Although these words are often used interchangeably, they still have minor differences between them.
‘Sociopath’ although not an official medical term, is often used for antisocial personality disorder. Whereas ‘psychopath’ is not related to any official medical diagnosis and hence has very arbitrarily used for any person referred to have no conscience.
It is a general belief for psychology researchers that psychopaths are just born like that, we can call it a genetic predisposition and there is no outside entity responsible for their behavior as such. Whereas sociopaths are mostly influenced by their environment, it can be a family thing or peer pressure, a childhood trauma or not able to fit in the society.
Psychopaths are very successful in concealing their identity as so. They concoct very deep and well framed plans to achieve their goal and do not feel any guilt or whatsoever for harming others in the process in order to achieve their goals. They seem to be quite normal and fit-in well with the society at the surface and function even better than normal people out there. However, they may have seemingly amazing relationships with their lover, family and friends but for real they are just master minds to drive the things their own way to achieve what they want. They are extremely cunning and do not have any real feelings for their lover, family or friends.
Whereas, sociopaths generally are quite often be more imprudent and sporadic in their way of behaving. While likewise experiencing problems in having attachment to other people, a few sociopaths might feel a connection to an individual or a group that shares like personalities. Although with much difficulty, they still manage to form pure emotional attachments without harming his/her lived ones in any way like normal relationships.
Psychopaths have very shallow emotional response and are highly impulsive with lack of empathy. They plan a criminal activity very meticulously with almost negligible chances of getting caught or at risk. They feel zero guilt and do the crimes with a mindset of other people being his puppets and as god himself. They do not get agitated or nervous easily in the face of danger. Whereas sociopaths can do criminal activity in the fit of anger having a violent outburst without any prior planning and only when triggered, but later they may feel remorse and self depreciating feelings for behaving in such way.
Psychopaths like to deceive people by showing that they care and use other’s feeling for their own benefits. Whereas sociopaths cut it clear on people’s face that they do not like them at all, show anger or may beet them up without thinking of the consequences.
With all the façade, psychopaths are more successful than sociopaths in maintaining a family and work relationships but sociopaths for being utterly true fail to fake the relationships and cannot maintain a regular work and blissful family.