The difference between a Psychopath and Sociopath

First, some historical data:

Psychopath … This disorder was first defined and named ~1800 (in France, I believe) and has had its definition revised many times since.

Sociopath … A category of social disorders first defined 1980~1983, and has also been further defined.

One can also find that the term “psychopath” is no longer in use, and was replaced by “sociopath.”

On the other hand, “psychopath” can still be found in use by other reputable sources. So, if and when (i.e., until) a clear delineation is fully adopted, the following seems to be the generally-accepted difference …

A psychopath will use violence — even murder — if they consider it necessary to protect their persona, or simply to fulfill that part of their dementia.

A sociopath would not be driven to physical violence. Technically, though, I consider there to be little-to-no difference between the two, other than time.

A psychopath would have likely been defined as a sociopath before being caught for heinous acts. A sociopath, I believe, could well be driven to hostility based on what they are willing to risk if their activities bordered on becoming public.

Therefore, extreme physical violence clearly separates the two. But, they have much more in common, than in difference.
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The Psychological Trait That Makes
Humans So Easily Brainwashed

The ease to which a person becomes brainwashed is not a matter of intelligence. A sociopath or psychopath can manipulate a university professor just as easily as a blue-collar laborer. Recognizing a lie over the truth is more a matter of genetic wisdom.

In fact, the human mind seems to prefer brainwashing from lies over accepting truth by a wide margin. People like a “sales-type presentation” which they readily accept from profit-motivated sales people. People are this way worldwide, but especially in all English-speaking countries. Most people literally open their mind more easily to unsubstantiated, far-out stories from an energetic and controlling liar, but will tense-up, turn-off and virtually flee from sound, truthful information presented as fact.

People are brainwashed because of their psychological arrogance. Some people are so arrogant, self-centered and proud that whatever they are told to believe is automatically assumed to be correct. They make no effort to dig out the truth. These people literally brainwash themselves.

One Major Example of Arrogant Brainwashing.

Arrogance and brainwashing occurred at NASA, causing the unnecessary loss of life. The Space Managers launched the Space Shuttle Challenger in below freezing weather, even though the Engineers informed them of the weather limitation, specifically that the rocket motor seals would leak.

Scientific tests by the Engineers had already proven the temperature limitation that were specified. The test data was ignored, the Managers gave the OK to launch, and shortly after take-off, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded, killing all seven astronauts.

During the extensive briefings following the disaster, the Space Managers tried to blame it on the Engineers.

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By Neal Gabler
October 31, 2009

YOU MAY be wondering how it is that this week the financial industry, which was on taxpayer life support, announced it would be doling out more than $140 billion in bonuses to the very executives who created the mess in the first place. Or how it is that some of these same institutions recently began raising the interest rates on your credit cards to unprecedented levels. Or how it is that there are now reports of new and risky financial skulduggery afoot.

To answer these questions, it may help to consult the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,” the handbook for psychologists. The manual describes a broad category called antisocial personality disorder, which includes those whom we commonly describe as sociopaths. According to the manual, this disorder manifests itself, among other ways, in “deceitfulness” as indicated by “conning others for personal profit or pleasure”; “irresponsibility”; and “lack of remorse as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another.”

One could easily make the case that Bernie Madoff, R. Allen Stanford, the subprime mortgage pushers, the derivatives dealers, and the rest of the Wall Street gang were all economic sociopaths who were actively hostile to the interests of the American people and wholly devoid of conscience. What they did was not just the result of miscalculation or even greed, but of something much deeper and darker.

Garden-variety sociopaths – say, rapists or serial murderers – are reviled and typically punished. But when economic sociopaths were plundering the country, they were being lionized as bold entrepreneurs, financial buccaneers, even rock stars. In the financial press, they were gods …

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