Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is ASPD?TraitsDiagnosisCausesTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is ASPD?
Traits
Diagnosis
Causes
Treatment
A sociopath is not the same thing as apsychopath. Although the terms are often used interchangeably in conversation and popular culture, neither is an official diagnosis.
Instead, “sociopathy” and “psychopathy” describe a set of traits that fall under the larger umbrella ofantisocial personality disorder (ASPD). This is apersonality disorderin which a person shows little or no regard for right and wrong and largely ignores the rights and feelings of others.
Of the two, psychopathy is generally seen to be more “severe” than sociopathy, suggesting a complete lack of emotion and an inability to love or feel remorse.Even so, there is much overlap between the two conditions and much confusion about how they differ.
What Is Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)?
Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is a type of personality disorder in which a person has a limited capacity for empathy and a long-term pattern of violation of other people’s rights.
A person doesn’t suddenly “get” ASPD. Instead, they will have had a long history of these behaviors arising since at least adolescence.
For a person to be diagnosed with ASPD, they must meet at least three of the seven criteria outlined in the DSM-5:
In addition, ASPD is only diagnosed in someone over 18 years of age who has exhibited these behaviors before the age of 15.
Traits of Sociopaths vs. Psychopaths
Although sociopathy and psychopathy are both referred to in the DSM-5, the terms are considered more descriptive than diagnostic.
Of the two, a sociopath is closely aligned with the definition of ASPD.In contrast, a psychopath suggests a set of behaviors that can overlap with ASPD but can also fall well outside of the diagnosis of ASPD.
While the lack of clear definitions has led to confusion and the random use of both terms, some researchers believe that there are clear distinctions between sociopathic and psychopathic behaviors.
In 1999, Canadian psychologist Robert Hare created the Hare Psychopathy Checklist (PCL-Revised), outlining a set of behaviors that fall under the umbrella of psychopathy. This serves as the basis to differentiate sociopaths from psychopaths.
Sociopathic TraitsBreaking the lawPhysical aggressionManipulation of others for personal gainAnger and hostilityUnpredictable mood swingsImpulsive behaviorsChaotic and dramaticExploitation of other peopleIrresponsibilityUnreliable in relationshipsPsychopathic TraitsFeeling few, if any, emotionsSadism (pleasure from causing pain to others)Lack of care for othersPathological lyingCharming personalityLack of fearRisk-taking behaviorInability to loveNo remorse for wrongdoingPoor judgmentLack of life goalsUsing relationships purely for gain
Sociopathic TraitsBreaking the lawPhysical aggressionManipulation of others for personal gainAnger and hostilityUnpredictable mood swingsImpulsive behaviorsChaotic and dramaticExploitation of other peopleIrresponsibilityUnreliable in relationships
Breaking the law
Physical aggression
Manipulation of others for personal gain
Anger and hostility
Unpredictable mood swings
Impulsive behaviors
Chaotic and dramatic
Exploitation of other people
Irresponsibility
Unreliable in relationships
Psychopathic TraitsFeeling few, if any, emotionsSadism (pleasure from causing pain to others)Lack of care for othersPathological lyingCharming personalityLack of fearRisk-taking behaviorInability to loveNo remorse for wrongdoingPoor judgmentLack of life goalsUsing relationships purely for gain
Feeling few, if any, emotions
Sadism (pleasure from causing pain to others)
Lack of care for others
Pathological lying
Charming personality
Lack of fear
Risk-taking behavior
Inability to love
No remorse for wrongdoing
Poor judgment
Lack of life goals
Using relationships purely for gain
Conscience and Impulsivity
A key difference between sociopaths and psychopaths relates to moral behavior and conscience (the ability to differentiate between right and wrong). While sociopaths may have a weak conscience and try to justify their actions, psychopaths typically lack a conscience.
Sociopaths also act more impulsively, jumping on opportunities without thought. Psychopaths tend to be more strategic and think before acting, acting intentionally even if irrational.
Anger and Relationships
People with sociopathy are often quick to get angry when confronted about their behavior. They often have legal issues and unstable personal lives and are more likely to get into relationships with like-minded people if only to support their unstable self-image.
By contrast, psychopaths generally do not explode under pressure. They may even underreact in dangerous or stressful situations, or try to charm their way out of situations.
A person with psychopathy will also avoid getting into relationships unless it serves their gains. Once a relationship has no tangible value to them, they are also quick to abandon it without a moment’s thought.
Differences in Diagnoses
Another way that sociopaths differ from psychopaths is the type of concomitant (co-existing) mental disorders they commonly have.
People with sociopathy tend to experience concomitantmood disordersthat can cause them personal distress even if they feel no remorse about the harm they cause others. These include:
By contrast, people with psychopathy are more likely to experience concomitant personality disorders.
Among these prisoners, these personality disorders/traits could occur on their own or in combination.
Are You Born a Sociopath or Psychopath?
Researchers believe that environmental factors, such as an unstable family life, play a big role in the development of ASPD. In this context, a sociopath may seen to be a “product of their upbringing.”
In contrast, some researchers theorize that abnormal brain physiology or chemistry may contribute to psychopathic behaviors. This suggests psychopaths are more likely to have been “born this way.”
While the research is far from conclusive (and under considerable debate), there is some evidence to support these theories.
Sociopathy
The causes of sociopathy are not well understood, but a person’s environment—their childhood and how they were parented—is thought to play a big role.
For example, children who experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse are more likely to develop ASPD. Children who were neglected or did not form bonds with caregivers early in life also have an increased risk of developing sociopathy.
With that said, not all sociopaths were abused, and not all people who experienced abuse as children develop sociopathy. This suggests that other factors, such as genetics, may predispose a person to ASPD in the face of childhood trauma.
A 2016 study inTranslational Psychiatryfound that, among prisoners in a Finnish prison, mutations of two genes calledLINC00951andLRFN2were commonly noted in those that met the criteria of ASPD.
Both of these genes are expressed in thefrontal cortexof the brain which regulates impulses, problem-solving, and the ability to plan. Both are also inheritable mutations, meaning that they can be passed from parents to a child.More research is needed to confirm these causes.
8 Different Types of Abuse
Psychopathy
Psychopathy may be associated with dysfunction in a part of the brain called theamygdalawhich regulates emotions and helps people react appropriately to potentially dangerous situations.
Researchers with the Olin Neuropsychiatric Research Center in Connecticut proposed that psychopathic behaviors are due to the loss of plasticity of this important part of the brain.
Neuroplasticity describes the ability of nerve networks to adjust and adapt to physical, emotional, or environmental stimuli as they occur. The loss of plasticity in the amygdala could translate to an inability to recognize danger or feel certain emotions.
The loss of plasticity in other parts of the brain—such as the prefrontal cortex, temporal cortex, and paralimbic structures—has also been identified in people with psychopathy. At present, the cause of these physiological changes is unknown.
As with sociopathy, a person’s environment, including family upbringing, also appears to play a role in the development of psychopathy.
Treatment of Sociopathy and Psychopathy
Treating sociopaths and psychopaths can be challenging because they do not believe that there is anything wrong with them. Psychotherapy can be recommended, and some people benefit from taking medications to help with symptoms of ASPD.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is not very successful for people labeled as sociopaths and psychopaths because they do not see any need to change their behavior and lack interpersonal skills.
Talk therapy can help people change certain behaviors and is more likely to succeed when it is started before a person with psychopathic tendencies reaches adulthood.
Medications
No medication is approved for the treatment of ASPD. Many drugs that treat other conditions, such as depression or bipolar disorder, may help a person with ASPD manage their symptoms.
These include:
How Is Antisocial Personality Disorder Treated?
Summary
A sociopath is not the same as a psychopath, and neither term is a formal mental health diagnosis. Traditionally, people considered sociopaths are seen as being angry and hostile, while psychopaths are seen as having charming, manipulative personalities.
The causes of sociopathic and psychopathic tendencies are complex, and there is no specific treatment for either condition. Therapy is not always helpful for people regarded as sociopathic or psychopathic, but some medications may help control their symptoms.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Antisocial personality disorder.Anderson NE, Kiehl KA.Psychopathy: developmental perspectives and their implications for treatment.Restor Neurol Neurosci. 2014;32(1):103-117. doi:10.3233/RNN-139001American Psychiatric Association.Antisocial personality disorder: often overlooked and untreated.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. American Psychiatric Association. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596Gibbon S, Khalifa NR, Cheung NH, Völlm BA, McCarthy L.Psychological interventions for antisocial personality disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Sep 3;9(9):CD007668. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007668.pub3.Venables NC, Hall JR, Patrick CJ.Differentiating psychopathy from antisocial personality disorder: a triarchic model perspective.Psychol Med.2013;44(5):1005–1013. doi:10.1017/S003329171300161XAbdalla-Filho E, Vollm B.Does every psychopath have an antisocial personality disorder?Braz J Psychiatry.2020 May-Jun;42(3):241–242. doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2019-0762Black DW.The natural history of antisocial personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):309-314. doi:10.1177%2F070674371506000703Murphy, C., Vess, J.Subtypes of psychopathy: proposed differences between narcissistic, borderline, sadistic, and antisocial psychopaths.Psychiatr Q,2003:74:11-29. doi:10.1023/A:1021137521142Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA).Antisocial personality disorder.Rautianen MR, Paunio T, Repo-Tiihonen E, et al.Genome-wide association study of antisocial personality disorder.Transl Psychiatry,2016 Sep;6(9):e883. doi:10.1038/tp.2016.155National Institute of Mental Health.Mental health medications.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Antisocial personality disorder.Anderson NE, Kiehl KA.Psychopathy: developmental perspectives and their implications for treatment.Restor Neurol Neurosci. 2014;32(1):103-117. doi:10.3233/RNN-139001American Psychiatric Association.Antisocial personality disorder: often overlooked and untreated.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. American Psychiatric Association. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596Gibbon S, Khalifa NR, Cheung NH, Völlm BA, McCarthy L.Psychological interventions for antisocial personality disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Sep 3;9(9):CD007668. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007668.pub3.Venables NC, Hall JR, Patrick CJ.Differentiating psychopathy from antisocial personality disorder: a triarchic model perspective.Psychol Med.2013;44(5):1005–1013. doi:10.1017/S003329171300161XAbdalla-Filho E, Vollm B.Does every psychopath have an antisocial personality disorder?Braz J Psychiatry.2020 May-Jun;42(3):241–242. doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2019-0762Black DW.The natural history of antisocial personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):309-314. doi:10.1177%2F070674371506000703Murphy, C., Vess, J.Subtypes of psychopathy: proposed differences between narcissistic, borderline, sadistic, and antisocial psychopaths.Psychiatr Q,2003:74:11-29. doi:10.1023/A:1021137521142Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA).Antisocial personality disorder.Rautianen MR, Paunio T, Repo-Tiihonen E, et al.Genome-wide association study of antisocial personality disorder.Transl Psychiatry,2016 Sep;6(9):e883. doi:10.1038/tp.2016.155National Institute of Mental Health.Mental health medications.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Antisocial personality disorder.Anderson NE, Kiehl KA.Psychopathy: developmental perspectives and their implications for treatment.Restor Neurol Neurosci. 2014;32(1):103-117. doi:10.3233/RNN-139001American Psychiatric Association.Antisocial personality disorder: often overlooked and untreated.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. American Psychiatric Association. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596Gibbon S, Khalifa NR, Cheung NH, Völlm BA, McCarthy L.Psychological interventions for antisocial personality disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Sep 3;9(9):CD007668. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007668.pub3.Venables NC, Hall JR, Patrick CJ.Differentiating psychopathy from antisocial personality disorder: a triarchic model perspective.Psychol Med.2013;44(5):1005–1013. doi:10.1017/S003329171300161XAbdalla-Filho E, Vollm B.Does every psychopath have an antisocial personality disorder?Braz J Psychiatry.2020 May-Jun;42(3):241–242. doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2019-0762Black DW.The natural history of antisocial personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):309-314. doi:10.1177%2F070674371506000703Murphy, C., Vess, J.Subtypes of psychopathy: proposed differences between narcissistic, borderline, sadistic, and antisocial psychopaths.Psychiatr Q,2003:74:11-29. doi:10.1023/A:1021137521142Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA).Antisocial personality disorder.Rautianen MR, Paunio T, Repo-Tiihonen E, et al.Genome-wide association study of antisocial personality disorder.Transl Psychiatry,2016 Sep;6(9):e883. doi:10.1038/tp.2016.155National Institute of Mental Health.Mental health medications.
MedlinePlus.Antisocial personality disorder.
Anderson NE, Kiehl KA.Psychopathy: developmental perspectives and their implications for treatment.Restor Neurol Neurosci. 2014;32(1):103-117. doi:10.3233/RNN-139001
American Psychiatric Association.Antisocial personality disorder: often overlooked and untreated.
American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. American Psychiatric Association. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
Gibbon S, Khalifa NR, Cheung NH, Völlm BA, McCarthy L.Psychological interventions for antisocial personality disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Sep 3;9(9):CD007668. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007668.pub3.
Venables NC, Hall JR, Patrick CJ.Differentiating psychopathy from antisocial personality disorder: a triarchic model perspective.Psychol Med.2013;44(5):1005–1013. doi:10.1017/S003329171300161X
Abdalla-Filho E, Vollm B.Does every psychopath have an antisocial personality disorder?Braz J Psychiatry.2020 May-Jun;42(3):241–242. doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2019-0762
Black DW.The natural history of antisocial personality disorder.Can J Psychiatry. 2015;60(7):309-314. doi:10.1177%2F070674371506000703
Murphy, C., Vess, J.Subtypes of psychopathy: proposed differences between narcissistic, borderline, sadistic, and antisocial psychopaths.Psychiatr Q,2003:74:11-29. doi:10.1023/A:1021137521142
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA).Antisocial personality disorder.
Rautianen MR, Paunio T, Repo-Tiihonen E, et al.Genome-wide association study of antisocial personality disorder.Transl Psychiatry,2016 Sep;6(9):e883. doi:10.1038/tp.2016.155
National Institute of Mental Health.Mental health medications.
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