What is the difference between Psychopath and Sociopath?

Psychopath and sociopath are two anti-social personality disorder which can involve an extreme demonstration of violence as a result of its anti-social behavior. The two are usually considered similar, even by the psychiatrists, but they criminologists are able to give some differences base on their physical disposition or outward behavior. A sociopath is usually seen to be extremely disorganized, while a psychopath is recognized to be almost disorganized obsessively.

A sociopath is not always able to have a sustainable relationship with anyone, either their family members, friends, or co-workers; but a psychopath can still have a sustainable relationship with people. They can get married, care for their parents, and even give birth to children and take responsibility for them. Sociopaths don't have an apartment they dwell in, but the psychopaths still have their dwelling place or apartments. The sociopaths are frequently involved in violence, which they never even planned for; while the psychopath takes years to plan out any violence, and they carry out their violence in such a way that they can hardly be suspected.

The typical psychopath suffers from a lack of empathy or conscience. A sociopath, on the other hand, has an antisocial personality disorder. The psychopath, possesses a high level of impulsivity, while sociopaths have varied impulsivity. The behavior of a psychopath is inconsistent, while the behavior of a sociopath is manipulative, calculated, contrived, and controlled. A psychopath tends to leave clues and act on impulse. A sociopath generally partakes in schemes and scams and take calculated risks to prevent exposure or to diminish the evidence.

The criminal predisposition of a psychopath is to take excessive risks. With a sociopath, they tend to take more disciplined risks, and they also have more of a tendency to take deliberate steps not to get caught. Psychopaths tend to be violent, while with a sociopath, it is more about their calculated criminal behavior and thinking that they are above the law.

Psychopaths and sociopaths may sound the same to most people, but they are really different from one another. They might share some traits or personality disorders, but they have a number of differences. Psychopaths do not form and maintain any emotional attachments as they only view others (human or animal) as objects to amuse them.

They are usually aggressive and very manipulative that they can easily gain one’s trust. They know how to copy emotions to look normal, yet they never really feel them. Sociopaths, on the other hand, are usually agitated, nervous, and very prone to emotional outbursts. Unlike psychopaths, sociopaths can form an attachment with others though they find it difficult. When sociopaths commit a murder, it is usually spontaneous rather than planned due to their erratic behavior.

Some people may think that a psychopath and a sociopath are the same, but these are not the same. A psychopath is someone who has the ability to disassociate for the actions that he makes. A lot of killers are psychopaths because they do not feel any remorse for what they have done.

They have disassociated from the emotions that one may feel when he kills. Psychopaths and sociopaths may both act in reckless ways, but psychopaths do it because they do not care while sociopaths may do it because they do not know how their actions can affect different people. Between the two, a psychopath is considered to be more dangerous.