One of the most interesting and confusing discussions surrounding personality disorders is the difference between psychopathy and sociopathy. In the general usage of the term, both words are used to refer to cruel and violent people. However, they represent two distinct behavioral patterns under the broader category of Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD). If you’ve ever found yourself wondering which is worse psychopath or sociopath, the answer isn’t as straightforward as it seems.
While both conditions have a similar manner of relating to people, deviating to certain behaviors, as well as the lack of empathy, there is a difference in emotional depth, actions, and the level of dangerousness they can pose. This article simplifies these nuances to help you understand them more clearly.
What Are Psychopathy and Sociopathy?
Both psychopathy and sociopathy fall under the Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD). Although the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) does not provide a particular distinction between the two, different behaviors connected to each are recognized by scholars and practitioners.
Very broadly speaking:
- Psychopaths are more emotionally cold, calculating, and manipulative.
- Sociopaths are more prone to impulsive tendencies, emotional reactions, and erratic behavior.
But those short summaries just scratch the surface. Figuring out the reasons, behaviors, and risks involved can explain the debate on which is the worst argument, which is still unresolved.
Common Features Of Both
Before addressing the differences, it is essential to highlight what these two conditions have in common. People with psychopathic or sociopathic characteristics invariably demonstrate:
- Lack of empathy
- Failure to abide by laws and social conventions
- Lying or tricking
- Violence or anger
- Inability to form meaningful, long-lasting bonds
- Guilt or remorse deficiency
All of these behaviors can cause damage to the people around these types of individuals; the damage can be traumatic, especially if these individuals are undiagnosed and out of control or ignored. Still, for psychopaths and sociopaths, the way these traits present themselves varies widely.
Level of Concern and Connect
This is where the first pronounced differences start emerging.
Sociopaths:
Sociopaths can bond, but the bonds they make are often weak and very selective. A sociopath can like some close relative or friend, but in that case, the empathy is far from being stable. Emotional outbursts happen regularly, but in these cases, it is far easier to control these floods of feelings. In these instances, being upset or provoked makes a sociopath more prone to lose control and react violently.
Psychopaths:
Psychopaths, unlike others, tend not to form attachments of any kind. Although due to emotional manipulation, they seem to experience emotions, they do not usually feel any true emotions. They possess an indifferent demeanor and an inability to connect emotionally, which, paradoxically, helps frame them as emotionally unbothered individuals, despite having no psychological repercussions during and after meticulously plotted vicious attacks.
Due to this emotional blunting, more often than not, people think that a psychopath is more dangerous than a sociopath.
Impulsivity and Control
Another important difference is the amount of control every type has over itself.
Sociopaths tend to have a lack of self-control. Their actions can be perilous and emotionally charged, which, in certain instances, works to their advantage. For the sake of argument, a sociopath might completely restrain themself in the act of petty cash theft or during an argument.
Contrarily, psychopaths are more self-controlled. For the most part, they tend to devise multiple ways of doing a certain action and follow them meticulously. Unlike sociopaths, whose actions are not thought out and come in the spur of the moment, psychopaths act meticulously, even in their crimes, making them harder to identify and more lethal as time passes.
This argument regarding self-control stems from the ongoing debate of ‘who is worse, a psychopath or a sociopath.’
Social Functioning and Manipulation
Both sociopaths and psychopaths tend to be envisioned as socially awkward, or at the very least, strange and disturbed. This, however, is the case only a fraction of the time, and only in regard to psychopaths.
In many cases, a psychopath is well adapted to society. They can be very persuasive, well spoken, and even successful. Numerous people have rapidly risen to very high positions in the corporate, political, and even law enforcement worlds. Since a psychopath is a master at faking emotions, these people are typically hidden in plain sight until their actions become dangerous or until they hurt someone.
Sociopaths are not able to disguise themselves as easily. Their emotional instability and problems with impulse control often get them in trouble with jobs, the law, and personal relationships. They typically are the first to be associated with the label of “ ‘difficult’ or ‘unstable’.
Though both have the capacity to do damage, a psychopath is generally more proficient in manipulation, lies, and emotional mimicry. This makes them more difficult to spot and even more dangerous.
Risk of Violence and Criminality
In a rage, the sociopath is more likely to engage in impulsive, unstructured offenses. Their actions are often caused by fury, revenge, or a desperate attempt to retaliate. There may be little, if any, reasoning to their actions because of their extreme emotional instability.
Psychopaths, in contrast, plan and execute crimes with astounding dexterity. They are more likely to be serial killers who carefully select their prey. Their capacity for emotional detachment allows them to carry out violent acts with little to no regret or guilt.
Concerning the risks to the public, both profiles are troubling. Still, psychopaths are more likely, as a matter of record, to engage in violent acts without emotional attachments, which in turn elevates their threat assessment.
Reasons and Progression
Having such knowledge in terms of what leads to such disorders has the capability to assist in formulating strategies for mitigation as well as for early onset intervention.
It is assumed that for sociopathy, the etiological factors are pivotal
Most people who go on to develop traits of sociopathy suffered abuse, neglect, or a turbulent childhood. While it is true that there is a genetic predisposition, the socially determined factors are more critical.
For psychopathy, on the other hand, there seems to be more grounding in genetics
Studies using brain imaging technology have shown that psychopaths tend to have underactive activity in the regions of the brain associated with empathy, as well as those concerned with impulse control, emotional regulation, and the like. Such biological factors tend to complicate the situation when it comes to early intervention.
When discussing who is more troubling, a psychopath or sociopath, the argument hinges on these developmental changes in the case of public perception and expert opinion.
Effect on People Around
Witnessing close people or colleagues going through all this can cause tremendous trauma, both emotionally and psychologically.
- In the case of sociopathy, relating is bound to be difficult. Emotional closeness is usually blocked by violence, lying, and dominating behavior. A sociopath can profess deep feelings, but behavior is usually devoid of care or courtesy.
- In the case of psychopathy, relating is again, strategically selfish. While the person may seem caring, underneath is a hidden scheme. There’s hardly a way for victims to guess that they have been used until the collateral is substantially high.
They both have the potential of emotionally disrupting the partners, peers, and members of the family, but sociopathic victims perhaps suffer the worst, the emotional torment and deeper influence of psychopaths.
Influence of the Media and Misconceptions by the Public
A significant part of the global population is misinformed about sociopathy and psychopaths, particularly after watching a movie or a documentary on crimes. Disney used to have a psychopath, but now, the media shows extreme figures like Dexter to teach society about these disorders.
Sociopaths are often seen to be unstable psychopaths, while the media portrays sociopaths as emotional and violent criminals.
The truth is, most of those diagnosed with these attributed traits go through life without so much as lifting a finger to break the law while, at the same time, causing profound emotional destruction.
Treatment Options
There is a silver lining, as treatment for both psychopathy and sociopathy targets the most egregious or abusive forms of behavior, as opposed to the personality disorder itself, which is changing.
The paradox of these conditions is that they are largely unchanged because the individual lacks insight as well as motivation.
Nevertheless, there is an ever-growing array of therapeutic approaches to these disorders such that the behavior becomes manageable or, minimally, harm to others is reduced:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, popularly known as CBT, is one of the most frequently utilized interventions.
- Anger as well as hostility management programs
- Multiple structured behavioral interventions
- Medications aimed at reducing impulsivity or even the full bouquet of mood symptoms.
There is a sizeable body of literature that suggests that, especially in the case of trauma or abuse, sociopaths as a group are more responsive to therapeutic interventions. On the other hand, psychopaths are likely to attend therapy, not for the emotional labor, but rather, for the logical portion of the job where they relish the chance to sharpen their manipulative skills.
The verdict: Which is Worse?
So, in essence, which is worse psychopath or sociopath?
There is no right answer to this question. Its answer would be largely contextual. Within the confines of emotional instability, as well as volatility, the sociopaths are, more often than not, a more immediate threat. On the other hand, in the case of psychopathy, the ability to manipulate, spin webs of lies and deceit, as well as ensure there is harm: these individuals are more dangerous and insidious.
Both conditions involve disruptions in empathy, morals, and relating to others. They both impact family members and communities in significant ways, regardless of the label.
It’s important to understand the signs of both illnesses, the risks to the individual and those around them, and the necessity for professional intervention.
Final Thoughts
Meeting or being in a relationship with a person with antisocial traits is an experience that can be difficult, puzzling, and often very painful. Having knowledge of the distinctions between psychopathy and sociopathy is beneficial because it means there is greater awareness, along with stronger decisions and boundaries being put in place.
The team at Clearmind Treatment is available to assist and explain the impact that difficult emotional experiences can have. Our compassionate clinicians work with families and individuals to navigate emotional and psychological problems, which are interwoven in a complex way.