“What is a psychopath and how is it different from a sociopath?”

As a forensic psychologist, I have been asked on many occasions, in both formal settings (court proceedings) or other consultations and my personal life. So I thought that this blog article would be a good way to communicate clearly what is a psychopath and a sociopath. We will take a look at the differences and similarities between a psychopath and a sociopath.

About official psychopath and sociopath diagnoses

First, let me specify that neither psychopathy nor sociopathy are parts of the official diagnostic manual of the American Psychiatric Association (the DSM-5).  They are clinical entities identified by clinicians/researchers but have not yet been endorsed by the APA.  Many such clinical entities are mentioned in the media (e.g. “Malignant Narcissism”) but are not an official diagnosis.  Thus, what are the criteria used to pose this or that diagnosis?

Sources and a few psychological definitions

Before I answer the questions about psychopathy and sociopathy, let me first tell you the story of how I was educated in this particular mental disorder. When I first started to work in a federal penitentiary I did not really know what a psychopath was.  At that time, trained as a clinical psychologist, I mistakenly, thought that a psychopath was “only” an “extreme” anti-social type.  And an “anti-social” does NOT mean a loner or an introvert.  “Anti” means against, not “apart”.  So, a loner is an “asocial” individual, not anti-social.  A typical anti-social individual is one who frequently and routinely breaks rules, has no consideration for others, exploitative, manipulative, etc.  (For a formal diagnostic description, refer to the DSM 5). So, no, a psychopath or a sociopath is not a “super criminal” or a “super anti-social”.  They do have many common characteristics but they also have a few critical differences.

In my first year as a forensic psychologist, I was introduced to the first version of the Psychopathy Checklist (PCL), created by a Canadian psychologist from BC; Dr. Robert Hare.  That instrument had 22 items then.  The PCL-R (revised) has 20 items for a maximum score of 40. I’ve learned from Dr. Hare that a psychopath is not the same as an anti-social because even hardcore anti-social criminals have emotions and are, even occasionally, genuinely sorry for the hurt they caused to important people in their life.  Not so with psychopaths!  They are seemingly devoid of remorse, compassion and emotions except for angers/frustrations and desires/wants.

After reading extensively on psychopathy we eventually had Dr. Hare and his associates coming down here in Atlantic Region to train us in interviewing, administering and interpreting the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised.   This was in the late ‘80.  Since those early years in my career, I have interviewed dozens of psychopaths/sociopaths and score the PCL-R every time I needed to do a formal assessment/diagnosis.   After all, although not unique anymore to diagnose psychopathy, the PCL is still considered the gold standard of the industry. More recently, in 2012, Dr. Hare and associate (Dr. Adele Forth) came back to refresh seasoned clinicians and train younger colleagues.

Psychopath or sociopath?

In one particular individual conversation with Dr. Hare, in my car driving him from the workshop, I asked him what is the difference between a sociopath and a psychopath?  He replied that they are essentially the same thing.  The core characteristics of glibness, superficial charm, lack of remorse, superficial effect, impulsivity, etc are all there in both disorders.  The difference is that the sociopath will be loyal to a small sub-group of individuals.  They will respect rules of the sub-group.  Think criminal motorcycle gangs.  A sociopath in this environment (and of course, not all motorcycle gang members are sociopaths) will adhere to some of the rules (not flirt with the leader’s companion, not steal from others, etc.) while pursuing his own agenda.

So, without getting too technical, those are the characteristics of a psychopath: charming, glib, impulsive, sexually promiscuous, lack of remorse, lack of compassion and empathy, superficial affect and pathological liar.  What is the difference between pathological lying and “plain” lying?  Well, “normal/common” lying is actually distorting the truth to protect yourself.  You do not want something to be found out about you or about what you did, or failed to do …

All humans lie and there are even studies that show that children as young as 3 lie and, in fact, it is a sign of social intelligence.  If you want to distort the truth, it means you know the social standards. But pathological lying is lying for the pleasure of it.  For the pleasure of pulling a “fast one”/deceive/con, in itself.   Further, the psychopath caught in a lie will simply cover it with another lie, without appearing embarrassed to be caught in a bald face lie.

If you are interested in the subject, first read “The Mask of Sanity” by Hervey Cleckley, published first in 1941.  In this book Cleckley, an American Psychiatrist, explode the myth that psychopaths are murderous criminals, serial killers, etc.  Of course, some of those “murderous criminals” are psychopaths but that is the minority.  Antisocial if fairly common but true psychopathy is rather rare.

What is more common in fact are “white collar psychopaths” or “successful psychopaths” who are intelligent enough not to get caught and whose personality characteristics of no remorse, superficial effect, lack of honesty, etc. is actually an asset in their job (salesperson, politicians, etc.). And that is partly the thesis of  Cleckley and then, Dr. Hare in his book; “Without conscience”.  It is this amorality, this blunted emotional life that is the hallmark of psychopathy and sociopathy.  Not violence or serial murdering.  That is not the common psychopath.  Exploitative and predatorial relationships are more common as psychopathic behaviours than criminal and murderous endeavors.

Conclusion on psychopaths and sociopaths

So I guess the take away of this little blog today is two folds.  One, psychopaths and sociopaths are essentially the same diagnosis with the exception that the sociopath will be more “social”, while retaining all the main traits of psychopathy.  Second, the psychopath is not always a criminal of some type or even a murderer.  Obviously, amongst murderers, you will find more psychopaths than in non-violent and non-criminal population but psychopathy is not the same a violent and/or sadistic antisocial behaviour.