- [Announcer] Hey, Psych2Goers, when you hear the terms,
psychopath and sociopath, what comes to mind? Some people might think of
people who commit violent acts with no remorse, while this can be true in some cases, this does not reflect
everyone with the conditions. So with that said, here are five ways to tell
sociopaths and psychopaths apart, and how they're diagnosed. (gentle music) Let's start with how a psychopath
or sociopath is diagnosed. While psychologists agree that
sociopaths and psychopaths are different from one another, they are actually given
the same diagnosis, as both exist under the term anti-social personality disorder. ASPD is a condition characterized as a lack of empathy and
disregard towards laws and rules. It's also important to
know that antisocial refers to harmful behaviors towards other people. It's not the same as asocial, which is classified by introversion. Generally, people with
ASPD will exhibit disregard for the feelings of others, disregard to the laws and rules, no remorse after hurting others, aggression and dangerous behaviors. The difference lies in how
these symptoms are portrayed. Some psychologists argue that psychopathy is a more severe form of ASPD, while others think that it is something completely different. Sociopaths don't care about others, while psychopaths pretend to. Sociopaths tend to make it clear that they don't care
about the needs of others because of this, they may have extremely unstable
and abusive relationships. Psychopaths on the other hand, can be much more difficult to spot. They tend to blend in well
with the people around them and can fake their emotions
to avoid drawing attention, because of this psychopaths
may appear completely normal, sometimes so much so that they have long lasting relationships and families unaware of their condition. Sociopaths are impulsive while psychopaths tend to be methodical. Generally, sociopaths may have
a difficult time controlling their emotions and lash
out in explosive outbursts in a short period of time. They may carry out violent
acts and crimes quickly, and in the heat of the moment. Psychopaths on the other hand, tend to be much more calculated and thoughtful in their approach. They may come up with elaborate plans to commit horrible acts, and do so without drawing
too much attention. Sociopaths are generally a
product of their environment while psychopaths are born that way. Nature versus nurture is used to describe whether a person's behavior
is a product of genetics or how they were raised. Typically, it is believed
that sociopaths develop as a result of trauma and
neglect throughout childhood. Psychopaths on the other hand, are believed to develop
as a result of genetics and less so from how they grow up. Simply put, sociopathy is
believed to be learned, and psychopathy is inherited. Sociopaths can feel empathy
in certain situations while psychopaths cannot. Some psychologists believe that sociopaths can feel empathy towards
others in certain situations due to the learned nature
of their condition. However, this can be inconsistent, and may only be present in
specific isolated instances. Some would argue that sociopaths have a sense of right and
wrong, just a weak one. Psychopaths on the other hand, may not be able to feel
empathy in any context and usually have no
concept of right and wrong. Sociopaths tend to be unstable while psychopaths are stable. It can be easier to spot
someone who is a sociopath due to the impulsive and aggressive nature that they tend to display. Their behavior may be bold and show itself in their
chaotic relationships. As psychopaths are more
methodical and calculated, they show fewer signs of abnormality. They can also be extremely
manipulative and charming, which fools people into thinking that everything is ordinary. While sociopaths tend
to live on the fringe and avoid education, psychopaths may become highly
successful in their fields. While psychopaths can
develop mood disorders like depression, they tend to have a high level of control over their emotions. So did this video shed some
light on the differences between sociopaths and psychopaths? Psychopaths and sociopaths are similar, but are not the same, with many contrasting personality traits. It is important to know that
anyone with any kind of ASPD is capable of receiving treatment, and receiving the proper
help can make a difference. Let us know what you thought
on this topic in the comments. Please like and share it with friends that might find insight in this video too. Make sure to subscribe to Psych2Go and hit the notification
bell from our content. All the references used are added in the description box below. Thank you for watching, and
we'll see you next time.
