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- Superficial Charm & Charisma. Psychopaths can be very charming, charismatic, and persuasive people. This can be especially so with female psychopaths, who are more social and emotional than their male counterparts.
- Unnecessary Cruelty or a Mean Streak. Once the superficial charm and charisma wear off, a psychopath will often demonstrate moments of cruelty or meanness.
- Lies, Exaggerations, & Dishonesty. Many psychopaths are prone to pathological lying. They may exaggerate the truth to get their way, inflate their ego, or get others to think, feel, or do what they want them to.
- Lack of Accountability & Playing the Blame Game. Psychopaths commit some of the cruelest, most violent, and most heinous acts in society. However, they rarely take responsibility for their actions.
- Overview
- Psychopathy
- Signs of psychopathy
- Psychopathic diagnosis
- Psychopath vs. sociopath
- Causes of psychopathy
- Can you treat psychopathy?
- The takeaway
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Psychopathy, while not a clinical diagnosis, often refers to someone with antisocial personality disorder.
Few psychology terms stir up confusion like “psychopath.” Even though it’s commonly (though incorrectly) used to describe someone who has a mental health condition, “psychopath” is not an official diagnosis. Instead, it’s an informal term often used for a condition called antisocial personality disorder (ASPD).
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) does not list psychopathy as an official clinical diagnosis.
Since the term “psychopath” is not an official diagnosis, experts refer to the signs described under ASPD. According to Masand, some of the more common signs of ASPD can include:
•behavior that conflicts with social norms
•disregarding or violating the rights of others
•inability to distinguish between right and wrong
•difficulty with showing remorse or empathy
•tendency to lie often
Since psychopathy is not an official mental health condition, the condition experts diagnose is ASPD. This is one of four cluster B personality disorders outlined by the DSM-5, and the other three are:
•borderline personality disorder (BPD)
•histrionic personality disorder (HPD)
•narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)
Before explaining the criteria used to diagnose ASPD, it’s important to mention that diagnosing and treating ASPD presents some unique challenges.
According to Masand, ASPD can be difficult to treat because the person who needs help often doesn’t believe there is a problem with their behavior. As a result, they rarely seek treatment.
“Psychopath” and “sociopath” are often used interchangeably to informally describe someone with ASPD. Since sociopath is also not an official diagnosis, it typically joins psychopath under the umbrella diagnosis of ASPD. There is no clinical difference between the two terms.
Both psychopathy and sociopathy are other terms or ways to describe ASPD. The behaviors that are often seen in both tend to fall under the criteria of ASPD.
While the exact cause of ASPD is not known, researchers believe that its development may involve a combination of environmental and genetic factors.
More research needs to be done to understand the genetic aspects of ASPD. Previous research estimates that between 38 and 69 percent of cases may be hereditary.
Additionally, some of the environmental triggers of ASPD may include childhood neglect and other adverse experiences, such as childhood abuse.
ASPD may also be seen in people who previously received a diagnosis of CD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Like the diagnostic process, treating someone with traits that fall under the ASPD diagnosis can be difficult. Typically, a doctor may recommend a combination of psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medication.
While no evidence supports that any medication or form of psychotherapy can cure ASPD, these methods may still help manage some of the symptoms, like impulsivity and aggression, and improve quality of life.
According to a 2015 review, early interventions in adolescents and teens who received a diagnosis of CD may also help prevent ASPD.
The researchers in the 2015 review also found that for some people with ASPD, the condition may improve or remit as they get older — with improvement occurring at a median age of 35. They also found that people with stronger social ties and support, such as a spouse or family, were more likely to experience remission.
Psychotherapy may be helpful in understanding how the disorder can impact your life and relationships. A mental health professional will work to develop strategies that help decrease the severity of the symptoms.
If medication is part of the treatment plan, a doctor might prescribe medications that treat related mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or symptoms of aggression.
The word “psychopath” is often informally used to describe someone with ASPD.
ASPD is notthe same as being “antisocial.” It primarily involves behavior that conflicts with social norms, as well as a general lack of disregard for others.
Despite the complexities surrounding ASPD, a mental health professional may be able to identify this condition and offer treatment that can help.
Read this article in Spanish.
Psychopathy is not a clinical diagnosis, but an informal term for antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), a condition marked by patterns of manipulation and violation of others. Learn the signs, diagnostic criteria, and treatment options for ASPD, and how it differs from sociopathy.
- You are more rational than others. As long as things are happening, and you are not bored, you don't tend to get bogged down by negative emotions, like fear, sadness, regret or desperation.
- You are almost a different person in different circumstances. You behave like a chameleon. You can adjust your behavior to fit any situation you might find yourself in.
- You are easily bored by other people and the things they do. You need the adrenaline pumping to avoid feeling bored. You might get your adrenaline fix by being in charge of a large group of people or by living life dangerously.
- You often act impulsively. You have a tendency to act on a whim, displaying unnecessarily risky behavior characterized by little or no forethought or consideration of the consequences.
Psychopathy is a spectrum disorder and can be diagnosed using the 20-item Hare Psychopathy Checklist, which features traits such as lack of empathy, pathological lying, and impulsivity, each ...
- What percentage of people are psychopaths?Psychopaths exist across cultures and ethnic groups. It has been estimated that approximately 1 percent of males and 0.3-0.7 percent of females cou...
- When does psychopathy begin?An individual may exhibit early characteristics associated with psychopathy—called “callous-unemotional traits”—as early as childhood (before age...
- What causes someone to become a psychopath?Like other personality traits, psychopathic traits are substantially influenced by genetics , though research suggests that non-genetic factors...
- How is a psychopath diagnosed?The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) and the Psychopathic Personality Inventory (PPI) are the tests used by clinicians and forensic psycholog...
- Can a psychopath be cured?A high score on an established measure of psychopathy signals traits (such as callousness) that could pose a serious obstacle to successful therap...
- How do I know whether I’m a psychopath?The classic adage is that if you have to ask whether you’re a narcissist , you aren't. Not so with psychopathy. Some suspect that they have the co...
- What is the difference between a psychopath and a sociopath?The terms “psychopath” and “sociopath” are often used interchangeably, but a “sociopath” refers to a person with antisocial tendencies that are asc...
- What is the difference between psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder?Antisocial personality disorder overlaps with psychopathy, but is not the same condition . A person can meet the criteria for antisocial personali...
- Is there more than one kind of psychopath?One conception of psychopathy separates “primary psychopathy” and “secondary psychopathy,” with the latter type showing more anxiety and emotio...
Mar 20, 2024 · Psychopathy is a form of antisocial behavior that leads that occurs with traits like impulsivity, lack of empathy, and stunted or low emotional development. While psychopathy is not formally ...
Nov 10, 2023 · Psychopathy is a term for someone who lacks empathy and remorse, and often violates the rights and well-being of others. It is not a clinical diagnosis, but some researchers study its traits, such as callousness, aggression, and manipulation. Psychopathy can be related to antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). Learn more about the signs, causes, and risk factors of psychopathy.
Psychopathy is a personality disorder of affective, interpersonal, and behavioral dimensions that begins in childhood and manifests as aggressive actions in early or late adolescence. Childhood trauma affects vulnerability to different forms of psychopathology and traits associated with it.
