Doctors don't officially diagnose people as psychopaths or sociopaths. They use a different term instead: antisocial personality disorder (ASPD).
Antisocial personality disorder - NHS.
Clinical observations at ASH have suggested 4 possible subtypes of psychopathy: narcissistic, borderline, sadistic, and antisocial.
1. Ted Bundy. Perhaps one of the most prolific and famous sociopaths and psychopath figures in modern history.
Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPDs) become overwhelmed and incapacitated by the intensity of their emotions, whether it is joy and elation or depression, anxiety, and rage. They are unable to manage these intense emotions.
Borderline personality disorder is one of the most painful mental illnesses since individuals struggling with this disorder are constantly trying to cope with volatile and overwhelming emotions.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) has long been believed to be a disorder that produces the most intense emotional pain and distress in those who have this condition. Studies have shown that borderline patients experience chronic and significant emotional suffering and mental agony.
Sociopathy can be both a learned condition and one you're born with, says Dr. Coulter. “These behaviors aren't episodic in nature. They're a chronic condition, part of a chronic way in which a person interacts with the world,” he says.
Most people mellow out with age, but in the case of psychopaths and those suffering from similar antisocial personality disorders such as sociopaths, bad behavior tends to get worse, according to new research from New Zealand's University of Otago.
Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for consequences and for the rights of others. People with antisocial personality disorder go after what they want without considering the consequences for themselves or others and without feeling any remorse or guilt.
Results showed that persons high in psychopathy were more likely to perceive fantasizing about sexual relations with other people and expressing emotions towards a person other than the partner as infidelity.
A narcissistic sociopath is a person who displays both narcissistic and antisocial personality traits. NPD is characterized as a grandiose sense of self-importance, an attitude of entitlement or arrogance, and an excessive need for external validation.
Can Psychopaths Fall In Love? The answer is yes. Although it might be difficult to show these emotions, they can feel something resembling affection or even strong romantic passion.
The psycho gene - PMC.
A sociopath can sometimes be happy when others simply can't, because they don't have feelings of remorse or guilt. These particular emotions usually don't make us feel happy right away. So in theory, the complete lack of these emotions can result in more happiness.
According to Perpetua Neo, a psychologist and therapist who specializes in people with DTP traits, the answer is no. "Narcissists, psychopaths, and sociopaths do not have a sense of empathy," she told Business Insider. "They do not and will not develop a sense of empathy, so they can never really love anyone."
Some believe that it is fun to torture others, or that it makes the sociopath in some way "superior." Sociopaths are often highly-functioning people, yet many lie so pathologically that they do not even know when their deception took over.
Coined circa 1930 by George Everett Partridge, American psychologist; socio- + -path.
What's the Difference Between Sociopathy and Psychopathy? If you have ASPD, or sociopathy, you probably know you're doing something wrong when you do something wrong. But you may have little empathy for others. That means it can be hard for you to see things from someone else's perspective or understand how they feel.
Antisocial personality disorder occurs in roughly 3% of the U.S. population. The disorder occurs in men 6 times more often than in women. 80% of people with the disorder will have developed symptoms by the age of 11.
Depression is among the most treatable of mental disorders. Between 80% and 90% percent of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment. Almost all patients gain some relief from their symptoms.
Another hallmark of borderline personality disorder is having a favorite person—usually a family member, romantic partner, or someone in a supportive role, such as a teacher or coach. For someone with this type of BPD relationship, a “favorite person” is someone they rely on for comfort, happiness, and validation.