Both psychopath and sociopath are types of antisocial personality. We hear these terms in the media today more than ever. In fact, they are often used to identify the same person since few people know that there is a difference between a psychopath and a sociopath.

This is not surprising when you consider that they share many similar traits. Both a psychopath and a sociopath can be:

• Charismatic
• Manipulation
• cheater
• great

However, there is a subtle and distinct difference between a psychopath and a sociopath. These are the differences we will explore.

What are the characteristics of a psychopath?

Psychopaths are predators who use charm, deception, manipulation, and violence in order to exploit others.

Psychologists believe that psychopaths are born and not shaped by their environment. There is evidence to suggest that the brains of psychopaths have real physiological differences in the way they process empathy and guilt. This is one of the primary ways in which psychopaths differ from sociopaths.

Psychopaths tend to be lonely personalities who are unable to form close attachments with others. They can look attractive, but only in order to gain people’s trust. This is so that these people can then be manipulated into doing their bidding. They do not feel any emotions but can easily imitate them in order to blend into society.

Psychopaths are usually very intelligent and therefore capable of working in senior management roles. However, many prefer to live at the expense of others and manipulate people into giving up their savings and assets. Psychopaths tend to work alone, or in a solitary role, far from society and its boundaries.

Some psychopaths can cling to relationships for long periods of time, without their partners knowing their true personality. Others will flee from marriage to marriage in order to accumulate wealth.

One of the main differences between a psychopath and a sociopath is that people with the former are careful planners and do not act spontaneously.

They are able to detach from their actions and view people as mere pawns that can be used to achieve their goals.

Notorious psychopaths include Ted Bundy, the American serial killer who used tactics such as faking a broken arm to lure potential victims into helping him. And also Ed Gein, the serial killer who killed women so he could use their skin to make clothes and who was the inspiration for The Silence of the Lambs and many other films.

If a psychopath is caught red-handed in a lie or crime, he will try to manipulate his way out of it, or try to shift the blame onto the person he is accusing. They will make up more lies to cover up the original lies.

They may have had a childhood showing behavior that suggests late-life psychopathy. This relates to the Macdonald Triad, in which the characteristics of bed-wetting, cruelty to animals, and arson are present.

What are the characteristics of a sociopath?

Sociopaths are antisocial individuals who can appear charismatic and attractive. In this sense, they are no different from psychopaths. However, they are also moody, act spontaneously and ignore social boundaries.

They are said to be shaped by their environment, where they are likely the product of an abused childhood or physical/emotional trauma. This is one of the main ways in which a sociopath differs from a psychopath.

Sociopaths ignore the social constraints that the rest of us adhere to. Although they may be able to form attachments to a particular group or individual, they do not care about the rules of society.

Just like psychopaths, sociopaths do not feel empathy, guilt, or remorse.

They are unable to love someone or feel kindness or altruism. However, because sociopaths are shaped by their upbringing, it is possible for them to feel some type of emotion on a very basic level.

It is difficult for a sociopath to keep his job for a long time, because he is always getting into trouble with upper management. They are disorganized and random in nature, and tend to tell outrageous lies to make themselves seem great.

However, sociopaths are well trained to make these lies seem plausible, and people tend to believe them when they are told with confidence and reassurance. Just like psychopaths, they can be very charismatic and have magnetic personalities. They also have a large sexual appetite.

People like Jim Jones, the American cult leader who convinced his followers to commit suicide, and Charles Manson, the serial killer who led a group to kill innocents, were notorious sociopaths.

Sociopaths feel that their beliefs are superior to all others and that they have absolute power. They even appear like God to their followers and adopt religious behavior.

Unlike psychopaths, most psychopaths are extroverts, and as such, do not back down when they feel angry, upset, or frustrated.

If a sociopath is caught lying or committing a criminal act, they will either try to shift the blame onto others or fly off the handle and act as aggressive as possible.

Although sociopaths are not bound by the boundaries of society, they are likely to have followers, or at least one close person who is completely fascinated by them. This is another major point of difference between a sociopath and a psychopath.

Knowing the difference between a psychopath and a sociopath, which is worse?

Given the difference highlighted above between psychopaths and sociopaths, the former is perhaps the most dangerous.

This is because it is generally accepted that psychopaths are “born that way” and, as such, there is nothing that can be done to change their behaviour.