Both the DSM and the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Classification of Diseases (ICD) list both terms as synonyms for ASPD, but the terms are generally not interchangeable. ASPD is a much broader diagnosis than psychopathy, and is primarily focused on behavior, rather than characteristics or neurological differences. Though some consider both psychopathy and sociopathy as subtypes of ASPD, others claim that they are very different conditions.

People often confuse the idea of psychosis with psychopathy or sociopathy, or think that all psychopaths are psychotic. These disorders are actually very different, and rarely overlap. Someone who is psychotic tends to lose touch with reality, usually to the point of having hallucinations or delusions. Psychopaths and sociopaths are usually very grounded in reality — they understand what they're doing and the consequences of their actions, but they don't care. A psychopath or a sociopath might kill someone's dog because he or she wans to cause emotional trauma to the owner; someone who is psychotic might kill the dog because he or she thought it was robot sent to take over the world.

Some separate psychopathy and sociopathy based on their proposed causes. For instance, some people say that a person is a psychopath if he or she developed psychopathic characteristics primarily because of a genetic predisposition, and a sociopath if he or she developed the characteristics primarily in response to environmental factors, like abuse. Others say that they're both just different ways of describing ASPD. This method of differentiating between a psychopath and a sociopath is sometimes criticized, since the causes of psychopathy, sociopathy, and ASPD are not entirely clear, and are likely a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

There are other proposed models for diagnosing this condition, including the Cooke and Michie model, which contains three axes of behavior — Arrogant and Deceitful Interpersonal Style, Deficient Affective Experience and Impulsive and Irresponsible Behavioural Style. Some people also use the DSM-IV's list of traits for ASPD to diagnose psychopathy. This includes four criteria, including a disregard for other's rights, being at least 18, having a conduct disorder since before being 15, and not having another disorder that can cause the same symptoms. Others disagree with this means of diagnosing, since ASPD is not strictly the same disorder. The character traits associated with both a psychopath and a sociopath also tend to overlap with the DSM-IV's criteria for narcissism and histrionic personality disorder, so tests for these conditions may also be used in diagnosing.

There is no widely accepted set of diagnostic criteria for sociopathy, so it's typically diagnosed using the criteria for psychopathy. Psychopathy is commonly diagnosed using the Hare Psychopathy Checklist - Revised (PCL-R). It is divided into two factors: "aggressive narcissism ," and "socially deviant lifestyle." Factor one includes characteristics like a lack of empathy, failure to accept responsibility for one's actions, and an over-inflated sense of self-worth, among other things. Factor two includes things like continuously leeching off of other people, being easily bored and impulsive, and lacking long-term goals. There are other characteristics that don't fit in either factor, like sexual promiscuity and having many short marriages.

There's a lot of debate about the presentation of a psychopath versus a sociopath. Some people say that a psychopath is extremely well-organized, secretive, and manipulative, while a sociopath is disorganized, unable to pass for "normal," and messier in his or her crimes. Others say the exact opposite. People may try to differentiate between a psychopath and a sociopath based on his or her ability to feel compassion, saying that a psychopath feels no compassion for anyone at all, while a sociopath might feel compassion for his or her family members or friends. There is no consensus on these distinctions, however, and since individual psychopaths and sociopaths have distinct personalities, the behavior of one person diagnosed as one or the other might differ entirely from someone else with a similar diagnosis.

Both a psychopath and a sociopath have a complete disregard for the feelings and rights of others. This often surfaces by age 15 and may be accompanied by cruelty to animals. These traits are distinct and repetitive, creating a pattern of misbehavior that goes beyond normal adolescent mischief. Both fail to feel remorse or guilt. They appear to lack a conscience and are completely self-serving. They routinely disregard rules, social mores and laws, and don't care about putting themselves or others at risk.

There is no official definition of the difference between a psychopath and a sociopath , and some say that the terms are largely interchangeable. In fact, the The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) lists both psychopathy and sociopathy under the heading of Antisocial Personalities. Both psychopaths and sociopaths engage in similar actions and tend to have similar characteristics. The idea of psychopathy is older than that of sociopathy, and has a more defined means of diagnosis. Some differentiate between these conditions based on their proposed causes, but others disagree with this method, as the causes of both conditions are not definitively known. Additionally, both of these conditions are generally considered to be different from psychosis and Anti-Social Personality Disorder (ASPD), though these terms are sometimes associated with them.

Discussion Comments

HappyHippie December 31, 2014 The factors that lead to our mental state are secondary to genetic inheritance. Some people, from birth, form strange modes of thought in their neural formative stages. These may be affected by events before birth. The mother's emotional and physical states can affect the development of the brain in a forming fetus. While claims of alcohol and drug use affecting a developing fetus are probably overstated, there is a high probability that these could be a factor. So, the genetic makeup gives a foundation for the developing brain. Any errors or abnormalities here will of course affect everything that comes after. The neonatal environment then becomes a factor. Events in utero mark the cell growth of the neurons that will form a baby brain. The birth process itself can introduce changes to the brain, usually by physical damage from contractions or manual extraction, but also lack of oxygen. Once born, the brain must go through several development steps. Brains, like fingerprints, are unique and are created in billions of tiny steps. Each forming brain has to find the neurons that are sensation, and figure out where those sensations are on a map formed by experience. Each subsequent experience molds the neural pathways, and billions of potential paths are lost as the growing brain adapts to use the experience to organize thoughts and feelings into systems or behavior. After all of these stages, some brains discover a way to express feelings and others wall those sections off and never develop those neural processes. Some of these individuals will be so disconnected from emotion that they become a slave to the desires of the pure, unfiltered impulses of the animal body we inhabit. Once the brain adopts a pattern, it tends to keep that pattern. So once the development moves to extreme self-involvement, it reinforces the prior tendencies to be isolated and hostile. If this is you, then your ability to be empathic is damaged. You must consciously create the behaviors that most people would exhibit normally. We must teach ourselves to observe social conventions, to be aware and respond to the subtle signals that ordinary humans intuitively react to. We must by force of will and intellect, emulate a normal functioning human. Lastly, we have to form deliberate patterns of behavior to reassure the rest of the world that we fit in. It is by controlling our desire impulses that we can create successful behaviors that increase our acceptance in groups, and by contributing to society at large that we can derive personal satisfaction and a sense of our positive self respect.

anon949087 May 3, 2014 They have been able to prove for decades now if one has the brain function of a psychopath. They can do this by pet scans, MRI scans and there are genetic markers to check for levels of empathy etc. So why haven't we been given access to this by the medical, psychological, and biological community? There are probably many reasons but the biggest one is that it would have proven that these same communities have been wrong about many things and since we've based many of our laws and beliefs on these same theories, they would have had to denounce some of their most vocal experts as wrong and many of the recommendations they made as dangerous. It could have opened the floodgates of hell and people could've sued and gotten people fired etc. So instead, they've kept much of their study on the genetics of psychopathy quiet, but more and more the information is getting out. The "experts" are trying like hell to pretend it's not as bad as it seems saying that we can find a cure and we need to cater to these people so that they won't be murderers. Notice that there are no advocates for education and protection for non-psychopaths. Nope. Non-psychopaths are expected and in some cases told (demanded) to do more, give more, be more understanding and patient and if you are a parent of one of these monsters, you will alternately be blamed for the behaviors of the psychopathic child or berated for not being perfect. Never mind that they can now do screening in the womb or genetic testing of the potential parents to see if they carry the genetic material to create one of these monsters or are one themselves. And they could have MRIs/pet scans available so that you could find out if your potential partner is a psychopath. But instead, you will more than likely only find out these truths after years of abuse and devastation. You will be sidetracked and kept busy with many bogus labels for their affliction such as passive-aggressive and borderline. The list is long and gets longer every day. Start researching this subject and you will find many articles on the chromosomal, genetic, neurons etc. studies they have done. One I found especially interesting was written about by Jonah Lehrer on the differences between those born as psychopaths and those made into psychopaths through accidents or surgery. The ones born as psychopaths must manipulate and be harmful to others. Those made into psychopaths are simply incapable of feeling certain things. It's really important, this distinction, don't you think? It's just a matter of time before people start taking this to the courtroom. That it hasn't been made more public is a testament to how badly we've bought the lie of psychology and how strong the lie is. The only place that I've found the whole hard truth is surprisingly, in the Bible. Not the crap preached by the psychopaths in the pulpit, not the mealy-mouthed Jesus who only loves and doesn't say a harsh word, but in The Bible itself. Jesus addresses psychopaths directly in John 8:43-45. Psychopaths do not live in reality. Their entire way of thinking is only about themselves. Their brains are wired this way, and they truly believe they are the only thing of importance or alive for that matter, on this earth. They are absolutely and utterly selfish and they love what they are. Start reading the Psalms where those who have a conscience bring their cares to God and you will find over and over and over that this evil has been around since the beginning of time. Then read about Cain and Korah's rebellion against Moses and you may start to get a glimpse of the true nature and incurability of psychopathy. The thing that's different about how the Bible addresses psychopathy and how the psychological community does is that these people are held responsible for themselves (in the Bible) but those in the psychological world who try to invoke our empathy for the psychopath, insist it is not their fault. So how can this be? How can a person with a conscience possibly blame the psychopath himself when they were clearly born this way? Well, it took me a long time because I was thoroughly indoctrinated in the ways of the world by both the church and the world, so I came to the truth of this understanding very reluctantly and with much disbelief. Isaiah 66:3 says "These have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations" and once you know all the truth and horror about psychopaths, you will find that this verse is 100 percent true. Psychopaths love what they are as they believe they are god. (The God Complex is another name that used to be used to identify them.) You know what though? I no longer care why or how or what if or all the other philosophical crap that keeps us spinning around like insane people. All I care about is those who are still in vulnerable positions due to the lies they've been forced to believe by the liars of this world -- those with a conscience who are being raised by and with people who are truly evil, who are unwittingly giving birth to people who will never love and must harm others. There are those who are lied to and told that with enough love and understanding and perfection, they can turn a demon into a snuggle bunny. The one consolation I have is that it appears as though there are fewer and fewer of these people being born. (Those with a conscience.) Why does this comfort me? Because as a person with a conscience, I can put myself in other people's positions, (psychopaths can never do this), and I'm so glad there are fewer and fewer people who can so deeply feel the pain and hurt and then when they search for help, get thrown back in to the fray by "experts" who tell them to give more of themselves and do more. It appears as though we've once again took for granted and so depleted another of our "natural" resources. Not only do we still deny that people are born without a conscience, but we blame those who do have one, on top of it. Let's hope we as a human race wake up before it's too late, but if you need truth and comfort that doesn't pretend that it's not as absolutely horrendous as it is, turn again to the Bible to see that God once again was thinking of people like us and told us the truth about these times, in 2 Timothy 3:1-8. There's a reason people still seek out truth through God's word despite all of the evil done by evil people in the "name" of God, and that's because when you search the holy scriptures with a need for the truth, God is there and he is faithful to reveal his truth to you. There's truth and love and power in his word so just look for yourself. Don't be afraid of offending God by seeking him or invoking his wrath as many of us have been manipulated into believing will happen to us if we aren't perfect. That's just another way to keep us afraid (and remember, psychopaths don't process the emotion of fear but they love to induce this feeling in others in order to control them), and the fact that you can feel fear means that you have a chance to know God. Psychopaths have chosen their own way. Let them revel in it. Last thing. The Bible says that "Perfect love drives out *what?*" Do you know the answer? You'd think it would be that perfect love, (which is from God himself as he is the only perfect thing), would drive out hate or anger or evil etc. But do you know what the answer is? From 1 John 4:18 "But perfect love drives out fear." Guess what? In order for God to be able to prove to you that He can drive out fear through his perfect love, you must first have the ability to feel fear. You are blessed if you can feel fear, as this is a good thing as it can provide protection and let you know you are in danger. Psychopaths do not feel fear, not in any significant way and never on behalf of others. So again, take all this to him, if he can't handle it, he isn't much of a "God" is he? Pour it all out to him, all of it. Don't hold back and don't pretend it's not as horrible as it is. Spend yourself on God, and if you need the right words to use, look to the Psalms as many of God's favorites had the same problems as you and God loved them and us enough to write it down.

anon942262 March 26, 2014 I can't believe how many misconceptions there are. The terms 'Psycho'-path and 'Socio'-path refer to whether the disorder was present in the brain at birth or conditioned through upbringing. The outcome is Anti-Social Personality, which is why the terms are interchangeable, though specifically refers to origin of the disorder.

anon942260 March 26, 2014 The difference between a Psycopathy and Sociopathy is based on the nature/nurture origin of the disorder. A psychopath was born a psychopath whereas a sociopath is created by the environment they were raised in.

anon936651 March 2, 2014 A lot of whining in the comments. Where can I talk to more psychopaths? I've actually never had that idea until reading this article and these comments. Well this could get interesting. P.S. You are already living in a world ruled by these scum, but don't worry -- the ones in power are very good at keeping the rest of us out of power. It's why they are pushing labels like psychopath and sociopath onto those of us capable of doing what it takes to survive in a world where God does not actually exist and survival is not a guarantee, no matter what you have been conditioned to believe. Question: these mental breaks every three to six months. How do I avoid them? They really mess up plans and are what make that long term planning impossible.

anon357194 December 2, 2013 I do want help. Is there any medication? I suffer from delusions and lack of motivation. Can someone offer advice?

anon350345 October 3, 2013 I checked out this site because I was very, very disturbed by my daughter's ex-boyfriend. (Thank God above for their break-up!) He was so disturbing in so many ways, and completely and utterly exasperating on a thousand and one levels. I have never, ever met anyone like him. He was so egocentric and could never, ever see anyone's side but his own. He literally would take whatever situation and twist it always to his side, and make my daughter feel guilty and angry constantly. He was not capable of empathy and often said he wanted to be a "hit man" and that it would be "cool to assassinate people". He was not joking. He meant it, and said he wanted to become an FBI profile agent -- and not so he could help solve vicious crimes and help others be safe. Rather, he wanted that type of job so that he could learn to control others, and be able "to read their thoughts and control people." What was so frustrating was that it took a year and a half for her to be rid of him. He was a master at manipulation. Every time she was going to break up with him, he would weasel his way into her staying with him. He told her one day that he could "now trust her". When asked why, he replied, "Well, I have known you long enough now that I know your secrets and if you ever betrayed me I could blackmail you." How romantic, huh?

anon346969 September 2, 2013 Criminologists define psychopathy and sociopathy as two different character types. Psychologists and psychiatrists define psychopathy and sociopathy as interchangeable terms that mean the exact same thing. Arrogant psychopaths and malignant narcissists define psychopathy as more exalted and powerful sounding than sociopathy, so that's why everyone's confused. Psychotics are the worst people to mess with. Their crimes are full of unbalanced emotional passion and periods of zero empathy. There's a ping-pong effect of zero empathy to way too much, all under the guise of madness and delusions. They will paint the walls with blood, then shed tears for the victims, only to explode back into rage and divide the parts into millions of pieces, before kissing the body parts with an apology of "Why did you make me do this?"

anon326756 March 23, 2013 Psychopaths are loners. Sociopath (socio/social) network their crimes. A hit man is an example of a psychopath. A crime boss would be a good example of a sociopath. Thomas Monson and Mitt Romney are excellent examples of sociopaths and are regarded highly for this feature in their satanic character for the work they do for the LDS.

Razza 4 hours ago I agree that meat eating is socio/psychopathic in some way, because it shows no empathy or remorse for the animals who have suffered just to satisfy someone's taste addiction, because many studies show that a vegetarian diet is actually the healthiest, so there is no real need to eat meat, or dairy or even eggs. I think true empathy would not exclude other beings, just because they are not human beings. Some 99 percent of the animals we usually eat are not even threatening to humans. To feel nothing for the torture, kidnapping and suffering these poor beings go through, is to me truly socio/psychopathic and the people who do it with a clear or not clear conscience are really closet socio/psychopaths.

anon305685 November 26, 2012 "Meat is the cause of psychopathy and sociopathy." Thanks for the laugh!

anon297872 October 17, 2012 It seems to me that those who say sociopathy and psychopathy are the same thing tells me that they haven't really read about either in depth. For me, they are both different, but only by slight factors. With that, both terms are very general in definition. Try other articles and definitely look into some books. I've been researching for an English paper for the last week and I've discovered some interesting things.

anon288152 yesterday There's a lot of people saying completely opposite things about the difference between psychopaths and sociopaths. I don't think it's uncommon to consider whether you were one or not, but if you actually were one, you wouldn't care either way. You don't have to be a psychopath to want to rape or kill or even just be a horrible person, mentally. This page pretty much said, it's hard to define the difference but the two aren't interchangeable. That isn't helpful at all.

anon287189 August 24, 2012 There is no difference, really.

anon285906 August 18, 2012 @dgillrn1951: Try and focus the questions on inducing emotional responses. They should not have to be harmful questions, but if he cannot answer deeply emotional questions, then it may help convict him.

anon285904 August 18, 2012 Be careful here. What you may think is the truth may not actually be the truth. More often than not, just because you're providing information doesn't mean it's accurate information. Taking responsibility and not making excuses is a great way to avoid being one or either, and staying clean and sober prevents you from having harmful emotional outbursts. I eat all sorts of things to satisfy my needs/wants but I refuse to use and I refuse to believe a load of crap.

anon284693 August 11, 2012 I don't know if I've psychopathic or sociopathic qualities. Friends call me "psycho". From my side, I try my best to care for others, still I get to hear that I'm selfish. And surprisingly for me, I don't know why I've no feelings for others even though I try to have such feelings. I'm disorganized which makes me think myself a sociopath.

anon279278 July 11, 2012 I tend to think of psychopaths as the mastermind (since they are unfeeling), and the sociopaths as the reckless energy-filled one that serves them.

anon276661 June 25, 2012 Wow, so many posts I cannot even read them. Just for those who might read this, the main problem is what is going on in their heads. You cannot simply describe it by some obvious symptoms because you will mistake it and pretend, as many here do, that your ex is psycho, but he probably was not -- at least not in the medical sense. The problem is really with what is going on inside their heads and that is one of those places researchers cannot reach, or maybe they don’t need to because they might be terrified, However, I do think even psychopaths have compassion at times, as well as love and feelings. It’s just their other things dominate over it. In fact, I think they turn to cruelty because they think they cannot reach others’ love, but it is not only this. As someone who worked here with psychopaths said, they are truly scary, but do not always they pose a thread to you. On the contrary, normal, properly behaving people may, by intention or without knowing, can cause you harm and it is because they think “it’s not a big deal,” while at the same time, psychopaths very well understand pain and cruelty and may be very careful not to hurt others. But of course later, they may get to other points. However, they may be very caring, sometimes. The problem with psychopaths and sociopaths and with psychopathic behaviors (because I think they could be momentum for some people) is that for some reason, they feel a betrayal of their love, that they have been betrayed. That is the scariest point for a psychopath to reach, and that is when he starts to show his dangerous traits. It may range from a huge scandal to various methods of revenge. And this feeling of betrayal may be caused by small things that are not obvious to others, and of course, jealousy. Also, I am not sure they don’t have delusions. They are realistic but I think they also have some perverted reality which may mix with hallucinations. They fantasize (as someone admitted here) about causing pain to women, raping, etc. and their fantasies are very clear, but I don’t think this is unchangeable. I think it can get worse, but can also be improved. I think all people get their feelings hurt just by trying to cope in some normal ways, while psychopaths and sociopaths and their reactions are closer to hurting someone else. Also, I think their hallucinated reality is very much mixed with the true reality and that is why they lie so well. I think it could be a development issue here since most of people learn not to lie and fantasize too much after a certain age. It is probably that their fantasized reality feels more comfortable to them, and it could be that they haven’t received enough love or attention while being young but also it might be the case of rejecting such love and attention. However, I don’t think one meets a psychopath very often. In fact, I think this is very rare. --Chapla

anon276544 June 24, 2012 I know I am a sociopath. I can't recall ever loving anyone. The only emotions I feel are anger, hate, happiness and boredom. Last month I saw a woman have a heart attack and I had to stop myself from smiling. I take great pleasure in watching other people in pain. I dream of raping and torturing women almost every night. The only reason I haven't acted out my fantasies is the possibility of jail time.

anon260898 April 13, 2012 Why do all the comments here take the article so seriously?

anon258184 March 30, 2012 Okay. Where to start? Firstly, I truly believe the terms do nothing further than categorize an individual in the direction of pharmaceutical or psychological treatments which offer nothing further, so why do so many of you peruse definitions over understanding? You definitely have me curious on that one. Secondly, I wasn't sure what to write or even if my input into this diatribe would offer any real reward, but I have always been a sucker for a challenge, so here goes: In the real world feelings or correct feelings, responses are problematic. As you feel joy while within your group setting, someone will respond with an overabundance of joy, while some are much more reserved, and this is their dilemma. It's not the feeling, socialisation or ability to keep you engrossed in them; it’s their ability to respond or react to what you feel or think right here right now. Maybe it's a cool reserve, an outlandish display or a little dialogue but nothing more, nothing heartfelt. If I honestly, intrinsically don’t feel the same way as you, am I crazy? Or just more realistically and rationally insulated? As a psych professor explained to me, the problem with “pop culture” is it refers you to examples of serial killers, rapists and child murders, but by their own definition, these are the losers or less socially adapt within their sub-culture, meaning, at the other end of the spectrum there are highly functioning members of every society who harbor those with “the self-centred motive to empathize for profit or reward.” I never make any reference to any religion, good or evil, as this becomes imbecilic through any eyes. Just ask a slave trader in 1710 or ask a Nazi concentration camp guard and it is always relative to the subjective whims of the individual faced with a pacific task or dilemma at hand, and as such, universal concepts of good and evil in a shared cultural environment soon become a thing of the past. Finally, to those who believe they are and want to get themselves tested, they are not. Those who who like to scare others are just pathetic and those who want to hurt everyone without reward or benefit do sound like cattle to me. Those who question the act of asking any question in the privacy of your own home are too simple for words. I would like to thank Post 105 for the one really insightful comment on this site beyond the myriad of breakup ramblings, moanings or trollings; “it's funny to notice psychopathy only presents as a problem to the system when the psychopath in question isn't part of the machine.”

anon251706 March 2, 2012 Please check the sexopathy checklist to determine if someone you know is a sexopath (otherwise known as sexual psychopath).

anon239387 January 9, 2012 Meat is the cause of psychopathy and sociopathy. We are frugivores and a small percentage of folivores (tender non-bitter leaves) when fruit isn't available. Check out Robert Morse ND.

anon236523 December 23, 2011 I am just going to go by what the DSM 4 says and let you armchair doctors discuss uneducated silliness amongst yourselves.

MrZhawq November 21, 2011 To Editor: Thank you for your response. I'm aware that it isn't possible to get completely around a subject such as this within the limits of 500 words, and I I didn't mean to come across as if I expected anything like that. I do however think it is important to make sure to be as clear as possible so as to not by mistake mislead the reader...I acknowledge that my minority represent a serious issue in present day society and I have decided to turn my personal table, so to speak, and am trying to use my character traits, and my knowledge, constructively. This is what leads me to be serious about the information available about psychopathy. If you, or your authors, are interested it shall be my pleasure to refer you to more in depth and relevant information on psychopathy and related conditions. Thank you for an inspirational website.

MrZhawq November 18, 2011 I appreciate your attempt to describe the differences between psychopaths and sociopaths, but I'm afraid you didn't quite cut it. You only gave a vague, tentative description of one of the trends -- a trend that doesn't originate from the professional researchers or clinicians, but from layman observers. You have ended up with something that describes traits both minorities can present and thereby you have failed to reach your goal. Personally, I have chosen Robert Hare's description as it to me seems to be the more practically functional one. If you - and your readers - are interested in learning more about how this all looks from the view point of someone who has the psychopathy diagnosis, but who (dare I say) is also fairly well educated in the matter, though still learning, look up Psychopathic Writings. I would like to also address the poster before me: I have been diagnosed with psychopathy, but I do not fit your description of a psychopath. I fit your description of yourself - a sociopath. In my eyes, you are most likely a psychopath. Sociopaths differ from us in that they have mores, or codes, and often identify with a social minority or group (neo-nazi, f.x. - it can be anything, really). Sociopaths can be extremely loyal to what they identify with. A typical example of the codex or moral of a sociopath is the prison code "We don't condone or accept pedophiles!" -- stuff like that. I was a little surprised at your statement: "We have no social awareness". I think we do; we just do not have emotional attachment to any of it. But I think it's probably just a matter of description. Still, our social awareness and knack for psychology makes it generally very easy for us to "fit in" with a social group when and if we choose.

anon230247 November 18, 2011 These are statements that are detrimental to the actual fact about people going about their daily routines and yet without these types of questions, it would be hard for a psychotherapist to come up with some kind of answers when this started as a somehow figment of imagination yet only in it's creativity. Does not fit normal but only logical standards by playing it safe. It's what they call brainwashing techniques, no doubt.

anon229928 November 16, 2011 This article is utterly pointless, even more so than the comments. For starters, the article is almost entirely wrong about what sociopathy and psychopathy even are. I really feel dumber just from reading all this nonsense. Now for the comments. Almost every comment has fallen into one of two categories: false claims or trolling. Trolling is all over the comments: "socio/psychopaths" trolling "sheep", norms trolling would-be socio/psychopaths, and even worse, people trolling the trollers for being trolls. Sorry about the excessive use of internet gibberish just then. False claims. Everyone says they are, or have known, a socio/psychopath. A lot of the kid cases do appear to have a disorder, as opposed to just being unruly. Those who put everyone on here down and say they are bad parents, or that their kids aren't messed up, they just want attention are discrediting these people's concerns, and even worse, are discrediting sociopaths' beautiful work. All of this said, let's get to the meat and potatoes of this post that most won't read unless they are as bored as I am. If you believe any one act or behavioral pattern makes your case for someone being a socio/psychopath, you are wrong. If you believe your are a socio/psychopath, but acknowledge that your behavior is "wrong," "immoral" or that you need help for your "problem," you are wrong. The truth is, neither have remorse, both think they are faultless, and neither would ever ask for, or seek, help for their "disorder." Case in point: I am a sociopath. I'm not saying this as a cry for help, since I am perfect. I'm not saying this for "praise" or attention because I will likely never read the potential comments to this. I am stating it, quite simply, so that I can show what bit of qualification I have for speaking on behalf of my fellow sociopaths. Sociopathy, in itself, is a complete absence of social awareness. We lack empathy and any other form of sincere connection to other human beings (trust me, I've tried - just to see what it was like). This causes us to be manipulative and abusive toward our victims, as we simply don't comprehend they are people, too. We have absolutely no regard for authority or morality or any of that nonsense norms waste their time with. This causes us to routinely, but smartly, break the law. We break laws like murder and rape without batting an eye, because we don't care about the victim and believe we will get away with our crimes. Which means, very clearly, that you are not a sociopath if you regret anything that was pleasurable or profitable for you. Yes, no matter how "bad" your action may or may not be. We do, however, possess regret. It just isn't the same form of regret that norms have. Sociopaths regret failed endeavors. For example, I very much regret when I have the perfect victim then make a bad judgment call and get them to run away (sometimes literally). The key difference between sociopath regret and norm regret is that norms regret hurting someone, or breaking the law, where as sociopaths only regret failing. As for psychopaths, they have similar behavior patterns, but a completely contrasting mentality. Psychopaths believe they are doing what is right. Sociopaths simply don't care about right or wrong. Again, I don't know much about psychopathy (as concrete), so I will focus on sociopaths. It is understandable that everyone compares sociopaths and psychopaths to each other, because the ignorant masses don't even realize there is a difference. That is because we are so much alike in our behavior. However, if you were given a day in the mind of a psychopath, and a day in the mind of a sociopath, you would very easily distinguish the differences between them. Sociopaths, in the eyes of psychopaths, are soulless monsters in need of damnation. After all, psychopaths believe their evil is good, whereas they would surely realize that a sociopath's evil is simply that. Sociopaths, on the other hand, view psychopaths as defective cattle, which they are. Lacking a desire for good against evil (sociopathy), makes you detached. Believing evil deeds to be good (psychopathy), makes you stupid. I'm sure the rivalry and distaste for the opposing side is very similar to the Blood and Cribs conflict, and all gang rivalry. Both sides think the other one deserves to die, while both sides do, in fact, deserve to die, and both sides are willing to pull the trigger.

anon225847 yesterday anon214165 Post 261 She may be acting out for other reasons. Some kids are harder to raise than others. The stuff at 6 and 11 could have been normal "bratty" behavior, but sexual promiscuity at age 13 sounds like a cry for help. She might need therapy or medication, or both. Are you and your spouse still together? Does she have any siblings. Maybe some family counseling for all? Even if she is not a true psychopath or sociopath, you're right to not just ignore it. I don't think someone this troubled would "outgrow" it without treatment.

anon225647 October 27, 2011 The worst part of these people is how they play to be sickly sweet/ perfectly dominating figures. They are just rabid. They don't win anything because they don't know what they are winning. They just like herding sheep over cliffs. Not because they are misanthropes, but because they are that greedy and self focused. It's really really sad. Most people think psychopaths are "amazing people". It's so laughable.

anon214165 September 14, 2011 I'm worried my daughter might be a sociopath or a psychopath, but I'm not sure which one. When she was six, she got caught at school burning another child's hand. She said she didn't know it would hurt the other child and claimed she was just curious and wouldn't do it again. Then at 11 she got caught tricking a little boy into beating up other kids, and she told the teachers she didn't do it, but when at home I asked her and she told me it entertained her to watch them get hurt and watch the little boy do whatever she told him to do. She's now 13 and has a large group of other children that listen to everything she says. I've caught her having sex with men much older then her, and stealing from people. I've also overheard her trying to convince her peers to steal for her or take drugs and take part in other dangerous activities. Last year she even accused a man of raping her. He got off because there was no evidence, but she later told me he got on her nerves so she falsely accused him. She doesn't make attachments with anyone or anything. even when she was very young (around two and three) she wouldn't make friends and wouldn't become attached to her toys. I love my daughter with all my heart but I don't want her to hurt people. Can someone please help me?

anon213784 September 12, 2011 Actually, there is some evidence that there are brain changes where the person displays the characteristics of psychopathy, which suggest it is a disease, not moral option. These findings suggest that that there may ultimately be a treatment for psychopathy. Simon Barn-Cohen suggest the origins of psychopathy are probably both genetic and environmental, and in some cases, a combination of the two. This doesn't make them any less callous, truthful, honest, or less deceitful or dangerous. Or less difficult or deal with in a criminal sense.

anon207796 August 21, 2011 @anon142088 Post 210: Just like physical training will allow you to sculpt your body, personal conditioning can be used to mold your psyche however you please.

anon207784 August 21, 2011 @anon71991 Post 117: Your closing line incited some amused laughter there. What gets me is not so much the feeling of self-satisfaction you seem to enjoy, but the fact that it is based in frivolous and pointless pranks. For the same reason that I don't need to divulge anything about myself for this to ring true, you know as well as I do that your aptitude could go to so much better purposes. Motivated by your own zeal, perhaps even operating under the guise of the Free World, you could, in the long run, cause real damage to so many more, and target prey of which you could proudly display the heads on your wall, with near uniform commendation on your accomplishments. Instead, you fetter around with co-workers in said lab, wasting your time and sabotaging your own efforts like with your Bart Simpson-esque hijinks, tying shoelaces and pounding your chest after the fact because nobody else will. Stop playing games with savants and take up a real challenge. As it is, these acts invoke the same sort of acknowledgment a petulant child gets when he seeks the approval of his superiors. An analogy that also adequately represents the balance between you and me.

anon207781 August 21, 2011 @anon153068 Post 226: "Who talks like that?" The emotionally damaged. I'm inclined to bring in autism, but the degree of frustration and diffidence that goes into that sort of hermetic and pseudopsychotic behavior can have a wide array of origins.

anon203311 August 5, 2011 Not to belittle your experiences here people, but it seems like most of the stories I read about "psychopaths" and "sociopaths" actually present the symptoms and behaviors of people with borderline personality disorder, not psychopathy/sociopathy. Look this up.

anon198003 July 18, 2011 First, most of the issues described here have nothing to do with psychopaths, and even less with sociopaths. These are just cases of regular and boring human behavior driven by idiotistic emotions such as petty, hate-based revenge, which is, in fact, very similar to conscience. In the case of conscience, you just take revenge on yourself for not adhering to your own system of not less pathetic collective values that include an emotional dependency standard as well. The author of the article, on the other hand, either has absolutely no clue about sociopaths, or is so unimaginative that he or she tries to create some background for his or her little thesis designed to stand out of the crowd desperately, and failing. The lack of real intellectual value to it is such that one can almost smell it, makes it counterproductive and ridiculous. First of all, it is precisely the other way around: it is exactly sociopaths who are often very intelligent, much more often highly educated than psychopaths, are not only able to understand and be aware of, but explicitly very good at miming emotions, including regret, remorse, conscience, even complex concepts of empathy. Psychopaths are often following a form of internal constraint, compulsion, system of beliefs, in essence not having remorse because they believe that what they do and act upon is right. To put this into (a rather trivial and fashionable) perspective, a psychopath may well be deeply submerged in guilt for disappointing grandpa, while perfectly fine with skinning young women alive on a regular basis. Sociopaths in turn, have absolutely no internal constraint whatsoever, no regret, no remorse. They perceive any and all human conscience or its symptoms as pure utility. Often very manipulative, and if intelligent enough, able to learn to mime emotionally apt, conscience-projected behavior, no system is able to diagnose them, as it is not their mental disability, but that of the rest of the collective cattle. Most people have a problem resembling in fact obsessive-compulsive disorder very closely, by not being able to control their urge to conform to some sort of imaginary collective ideal for some emotional masturbation opportunity in exchange. Truly pathetic in the eye of the sociopath, but a great advantage at the same time. Most of the regular cattle are seen as simply being capable less than them. For a sociopath, to put it this way, collateral damage has absolutely no effect on sleeping patterns. For a sociopath, a psychopath is an abomination, with little or no utility in it. Psychopaths are difficult to use, unless for special problems requiring a tool of dubious and limited controllability, preferably disposed of after use as soon as possible. One of the most effective and amusing methods is actually to get the cattle to imprison or hospitalize the psychopath, and watch them expose the specimen to various griefs while adhering to their greatly valued conscience, paying all the attention to being humane, while forgetting what it means to be human. For a sociopath, a psychopath is closer to the cattle than they think; it is just an exaggerated, overloaded, and often oversensitized version.

anon185683 June 13, 2011 I've dealt with psychopathic types of people. Actually i don't think it's a disorder or misbehavior. it's dangerous, yet one of many common behavior patterns. What annoys me is while some types of people try to understand them and rationalize their behavior, they don’t give a crap about what others think. And there’s nothing you can change in them. They're incapable of change. Maybe because they are led by their unconscious. But it seems like these who want to be or must be psychopaths have adaptable personalities. So it's just like some are designed to act, and others to react. But still better, stay away. Those are unlucky who are affected by them They are just time-wasting heaps of crap with overrated egos, programmed to destroy everything and everyone, including themselves.

anon178876 May 22, 2011 Ive got a question. if a woman marries a sociopathic man and becomes pregnant with twins is it possible for only one child to be sociopathic?

anon178455 May 21, 2011 @anon5898 post #4: There is no way you're a psychopath. A psychopath would not ever "feel like a bad person" because they have no conscience or compassion.

anon178446 May 20, 2011 @236: There is nothing you can do except separate yourself from her immediately and forever. If you ignore her long enough she'll find a new victim. In the short term, you'll just have to endure the damage she has caused, and let your friends make up their own minds. You can suggest to them that she's an actual psychopath, but don't go on about it because you'll just end up sounding crazy and psychopaths are more persuasive anyway. And if it gets back to her that you're exposing her for who she really is, she will only retaliate. Just endure it and eventually it will be insignificant to your life. You may lose some friends but you'll also end up with a greater portion of "true" friends.

anon178178 May 20, 2011 In response to 247: Anti-social personality disorders aren't curable. These people are incapable of caring for others, of loving others, and likely, of truly understanding what it is like to be loved. Despite how often destructive these people are, if anything, they are to be pitied. In my line of work, I've dealt with several sociopaths, not psychopaths, by my own diagnosis. When you truly understand what these people are, the parts of them that are missing, it is difficult to see them as human beings. Of course they are, but you almost get a sense that they are somehow different, like the difference between wolves and dogs. Anyway, what I mean to say is that there is no cure for these people. Twelve-step programs wouldn’t work because these people feel no guilt. They can murder someone, a child say, and as long as they don’t get in trouble and they either enjoyed themselves or benefited from it they won’t feel bad about it. A 12-step program wouldn’t work because the only motivation you could ever give them to stop some sort of behavior is if it no longer benefited them in some way. That’s why you find some sociopaths and psychopaths leading entirely normal lives, with families and steady jobs, etc. They pretend to be normal because they know that’s what they have to do to succeed or not get into trouble.

anon178093 May 20, 2011 Poster 192: As much as I agree with you about psycho/sociopaths not needing to verify themselves on a website, you've demonstrated a severe lack of insight by attacking bipolar and borderlines. Maybe you should research those conditions while you're attempting to educate yourself on the internet.

anon177211 May 17, 2011 My sister is a sociopath. From a very early age, she would manipulate people (other kids, grown-ups), lie and steal, this behavior was never checked or rectified, if anything it was actually encouraged since she got good grades in school, she could do anything she wanted, it got to a point where she would start fights with me and I'd be the one being hit by our father (after hitting me, he would apologize to me and tell me that he knew I hadn't started the fight, but he just couldn't hit her!), that's how easily she manipulated others. Now she's an adult and she basically operates on two modes: when faced with a decision, she thinks "will I get caught if I do this, will there be consequences?", if the answer is "yes" she holds back, if the answer is "no", she goes ahead and does what she needs to meet her needs. Contrary to what the article says, she is not living on the fringe of society and is able to maintain relationships and a job -- until others realize her true nature, that is, but that usually takes a few years. However, she lacks the self-control that I think is typical of the psychopath, as she can often get very anxious and loses control when things don't quite go her way. This is a very dangerous person who needs to control and subjugate others around her, to feel good about herself. My life benefited nothing from her presence, so I cut all contact with her a few years back. But she still routinely tries to put relatives against me. I have told my father a few times, that he has raised a sociopath, he goes silent and refuses to give me any sort of answer, he knows it's true. You can't cure a sociopath. Thanks for reading this.

anon176440 May 15, 2011 My 2 cents: A person can change only if they really want to change. Having some kind of belief system helps, or, what in Alcoholics Anonymous teachings is called a "higher power". The first step is "admitting the problem". It's part of all 12 step programs.

anon173532 May 7, 2011 Re: comment 244: Actually, the Ancient Greek word pathos is more correctly defined as "suffering". In modern literary usage, it indeed refers to a more general emotion. Within a clinical/medical context, the affix "path" always refers to disease; for example, pathology (pathos + logia) is the study of disease.

RichardD April 11, 2011 I always found those terms misleading to begin with. The root of them both is "path" from the Greek word 'pathos' meaning "feeling," hence our terms "sympathy," meaning "same feeling" and "empathy," meaning "feeling within", as emotions. Thus, if psychopaths and sociopaths have no feelings -- meaning internally as far as emotions -- then they don't have any feelings for or against society. As I stated in another article post pertaining to antisocial behavior, I was given that label by a Social Security attorney for allegedly assaulting my mother during an argument! So supposedly, just because I didn't get along well with her, I am an antisocial sociopath who hates society? The all the husbands who regularly beat their wives and kids and all the wives who murder their husbands and/or children must also be sociopaths! That is definitely not acceptable behavior to society!

anon165656 April 5, 2011 I worked for four years with psychopathic offenders on probation and/or parole. I carried a caseload of 35 to 45 at any given time. Our rule of thumb is "Cold, Cunning, Calculated" in every encounter. To me, the sociopath and the psychopath share common behaviors but it is the "3 C's" that separate them. I attended a training related to psychopathic criminals in the community some time ago. I was at a workshop called "Charming the Snake". I immediately thought "wow, this one will teach me ways to 'work' the psychopath to my advantage.” The opening of the workshop began with "how many of you thought this was about how to manipulate a psychopath?" or words to that effect. At that, the presenter said "I'm sorry but "Charming" is the name of the snake." This proved itself to be true over and over again as I worked with this population. They walk among us and you surely know someone who is, you just don't know who they are. Be careful out there!

anon163191 March 26, 2011 To those self-diagnosed psychopaths/sociopaths: You actually had to type 'psychopath or sociopath' into your search engine to reach this page. But information on something like depression - a much more commonly-occurring psychological 'disorder' - would have told you straight away that not experiencing empathy, feeling anger, and being completely immune to the suffering of others is just a symptom of a psyche not yet capable of dealing with issues that we all experience at one time or another. Depression (and similar psychological conditions) means, as the name suggests, that feelings are depressed: they are either lower than 'normal' or are experienced less intensely, causing a 'numb' feeling. If you can't feel, it's most likely because you're just not able to deal with your feelings. The fact that you're writing a comment on a site like this suggests that you do indeed have feelings, but you just don't yet know how to cope with them or understand them. Get some help, see a shrink, suck it up, whatever, but being melodramatic and self-indulgent by labeling yourselves 'psychopathic.' It is just another symptom of a lack of self esteem and the kind of self-obsessed and self-deprecating nature of depression. In short, if you wrote a comment here, you're not a psychopath, you're just sad. Literally. Find something to cheer you up.

anon162430 March 23, 2011 Just read the article. And I can't help but notice I display traits that are found in both a sociopath and a psychopath. But I'm fine because I know I feel compassion at times, albeit rarely.

anon162300 March 23, 2011 I have a major problem. Someone needs to help me.please. anyone. my best friend is a psychopath and i am not even kidding you. she is out to get me and is defaming my character and if anyone wants to know what she's doing, I'll tell you if you can help me out.

anon158576 March 7, 2011 Okay, to those of you just making of people who are saying they are antisocial or know someone who is, stop. Maybe they have an issue, maybe not. But so far none of you have claimed to be professional psychologists, and therefore it makes your opinion just that, not a diagnoses of "you're not a crazy psycho, just a loser who needs a life". To those of you claiming to be antisocial or knowing one, don't ask about it on a website like this where answers will come from casual viewers. Seek a psychologist or psychiatrist. If you're giving a story of how cruel you are, is it to prove a point to yourself or to others or to just try and speak from experience? I may have missed something, but haven't read anyone giving credentials. Except maybe someone saying there was a formal diagnoses. I'm a psychology student but still have a lot to learn, I'm no where close to being qualified to say any of you have a disorder or not. So what makes you think you are? (if you can correct me, I would love for you to do so.)

anon158448 March 7, 2011 Nicely said 192. Extremely interesting article.

anon154732 February 21, 2011 I couldn't agree more than with 192 (Especially about 191). How could you lot honestly be this stupid? It astounds me that any of you could possibly believe you are Sociopaths/Psychopaths, Trust me, if you feel the need to vindicate your insanity online, on a site like this! then you aren't even close to being a Sociopath/Psychopath.

anon154676 February 21, 2011 Very helpful article. I spontaneously decided to look into the differences between today after thinking about one of my favorite shows, "Criminal Minds". Watching it I was always curious about what the difference between all these personality types are.

anon153068 February 16, 2011 This site is hilarious. There are women all over the internet claiming their exes are psychos, obviously because things didn't work out. What's funnier is the people claiming they are psychos. I forget the name of the site, but I once read an article where a bunch of self diagnosed psychopaths were going on calling people sheep, calling themselves wolves, saying crap like, oh yeah, we're the wolves and we make those sheep entertain us at will. LOL. Who talks like that? It's so bizarre. These people obviously don't leave their computers and wouldn't have the slightest clue on how to socialize with people, let alone manipulate them. Oh and if you're typing a long post, save it. Nobody reads all that crap.

anon152638 February 14, 2011 The comments on this page from people writing long stories of their life and how tragic it is really need to get a life. i agree with #192: you people are going to extreme lengths to get attention. you want attention so much? Try stepping out of your house and actually socialize with people. By going out of your way to find these sites and post extremely unnecessary posts, you're only showing how pathetic you are. If you're so sure you're a psychopath or sociopath, try going to an actual doctor. Trust me-- they know what they are talking about. Which is much less than what i can say for most of you and they will probably diagnose you with some personality disorder or at the least the extreme need for attention with a tendency to be annoying. I came to this site for legitimate research. It's extremely hard to find comments with actual questions and answers and such pertaining to the topic. If you want to express your so-called "problem" do it on some other site. I promise you'll get more response and tick fewer people off when they are trying to do actual research or get legit information.

anon152133 February 12, 2011 It never seemed logical to me that such a label as psychopathic or sociopathic fits anyone perfectly. I'm sure there are individuals with very pronounced psychopathic/sociopathic traits-- most notably the famous killers and dictators we all know. But I'd expect the entire human race to exhibit some of these qualities *some* of the time. It's all a matter of severity, and the measure of our animal sides occurs in degrees.

anon150462 February 8, 2011 I have been aware of random behaviors that most people were sickened by as a child, but I was a child, it was always like that, to me they probably didn’t think I knew better, did I? I did many horrible, horrible things to animals and people and places alike when young (will leave respectfully unsaid) but the thing was, after a couple years, I came to realize that my entire life consisted of me being antisocial, isolated, and self-hating. So many people liked me and wanted to be with me or around me like a friend. I didn’t know why. They said I had a heart of gold. I was extremely respectful, never any drugs, maybe a little bit of alcohol, and always seemed to have a mood that was never real. Many, many times I had thought that I could be mentally insane -- a psychopath, a sociopath even, disturbed. I didn’t entirely know. The thoughts and actions that ran through my mind constantly were playing, but to any other normal person, it would most likely be sickening, disturbing, frightening, but no one has ever been able to see that side of me, but when I saw a guy on the bridge about a year ago, getting ready to jump, I got very confused and questionable about myself. I sat and watched. I wanted him to just drop so bad. I wanted to see someone die. I wanted to see his blood splatter in a chaotic mess on the pavement in front of me from far below and was actually getting rather mad that he wasn’t, not at him, but at everyone else who was stopping him and cheering on him to bring him over the edge. I was grinning so vilely and uncontrollably, so I had been trying to research for a while. It always seemed to be so dead on, but a mix of either/or, then I read the last paragraph of this article. The question is, I do know I have many severely dark sides to me. It makes me feel slightly nervous, that I actually enjoy the dark thoughts that play in my head almost like a lusting fetish. I don’t want to be this way, but inside it feels like I really, really, really want to, so now that this information has helped me this much. may I ask someone about resources I can get so that I could find help? If even at all possible? Any resources or whatnot would help a great deal. thank you.

anon147937 January 31, 2011 Re: 217 Certainly. The real wife of the psychopath is the one who testifies in court how normal he was. Kind, considerate and generous to the friends and family. He tithes. How could I have known?

anon147800 January 30, 2011 Psychopathy is not as rare as one would think. Approximately 1 in 100 is defined as a psychopath, according to research. Psychopaths are not simply those who slice and dice but persons who are both apathetic and display socially deviant behavior. I have studied pscyhopathy in university.

anon147392 yesterday There are about fifty posts here with people claiming their husband/wife or girlfriend/boyfriend is a psychopath. Let me explain something to you: True psychopathy is a very rare condition. If you were to believe the posts above, every Tom, Dick, and Harry in the world has it. It is not psychopathy if your boyfriend or husband cheats on you. It's not psychopathy if your wife manipulates you. True psychopaths do not show outward signs of being different -- until they strike. Ted Bundy was a true psychopath. He fitted in everywhere he went. Was charming. Manipulative. And none of his victims knew anything until the moment he killed them. Please stop labelling your spouses 'psychopaths' because you hate them.

anon147041 yesterday anon130230, stop being a poser. If you honestly didn't care, you wouldn't describe what you did as bad. It couldn't be more obvious that you are trying way too hard. Just stop.

anon145059 January 21, 2011 re post anon138684 - leave the mental case. I had a similar experience and divorced him after he tried to kill me more than once. Don't leave your kids to a sick manipulative mental case's behavior to try to destroy you and them for wanting to leave the crazy spouse. Get out now. Been there - have endured four plastic surgeries due to such a crazy psychotic or sociopath.

anon144409 January 19, 2011 Thank you for the very helpful article! I'm writing a short story, and since one of my characters is majorly psychopathic (is that a word?), it's very helpful to know how he should act.

anon142462 January 13, 2011 To gillian 1951: Try to make your attorney understand what it is he is dealing with and ask him to enlist the help of a medical mental health professional. Good luck with the trial. I hope that you cut all ties and have absolutely nothing to do with him again.

anon142088 January 12, 2011 on the basic level, none of them are to blame. their brain is wired that way, so why should they feel guilty? I do believe, though, there's a possibility for some change if someone really wants it; it's called will. Once you know what you are, you can take steps to become what you want to be and let happiness into your life.

anon141166 January 9, 2011 Is it possible that either a sociopath or psychopath not be completely devoid of guilt, and actually have a little capacity to love?

anon138939 January 3, 2011 Wow. Some people on here are attention seekers. Stop claiming to be or know a psychopath; it's rather pathetic. We all find them interesting and alien that's why some (70 percent) are taking on the role as being one or knowing one on here. Psychopaths seem intriguing to us not because of the sick and twisted things they do, but because of how unique they are. What we don't understand we tend to fear. I would love to study them or be charmed by one. It would be very interesting.

anon138825 January 2, 2011 Honestly, I think It's a sad situation. To have experienced trauma so intense it drives someone into a state of disregard for others is truly unsettling.

anon138684 January 2, 2011 My husband is a psychopath. He cleverly manipulated me and pretended all kinds of emotions to win my trust and love. He was very believable. We have young children now, but he struggles to show any emotion towards them or me. We do nothing together as a family as he is happiest on his own. He disappears outside doing whatever he does with his cars or in the gardens. He rarely smiles and only when I remind him that he ought to smile back when someone smiles at him. He killed and tortured animals as a child and as an adult, which he has told me in a very matter of fact way as if it was nothing. He has never cried when any member of his family has died. He never cried when I lost our baby and didn't even come to the hospital with me. I made my own way home. If he feels that people are noticing his indifference, he very cleverly makes a fuss of me or the children but only if there is an audience and it stops the moment they leave and he goes back outside again for hours. He will be generous beyond belief if it will ultimately benefit him in some way or if people then view him as some kind of iconic hero. He is very wealthy and successful, but quite frugal again unless he has something to gain. He wants to own everyone and everything but not love, cherish or take care of anything. Only one thing in his life is important which i cannot post as it would become obvious who he is. He is high profile. He persuaded me to sign over my inheritance as he would make it grow and would always take care of me. Now i am not allowed to mention it at all. I have only what he allows me to have and I am trapped in a loveless life. I am not afraid of him but I am afraid of myself as I sometimes find myself wishing things I shouldn't. My children are my life and the eldest now refers to our family as dysfunctional. Still, I never give up because there has been a very slight change over the years. Nothing to get too excited about, but a change nonetheless. When we discussed his personality and I outlined the meaning of a psychopath he agreed that he was most likely one but wasn't bothered in the slightest. I tell him how to behave in public. I tell him to put his arms around me when I need a cuddle. He will do it in the same way the computer knows to type these words, because I have programmed in the command and he simply follows the command with no emotion. He uses and manipulates women and cannot be faithful as he does not believe he is doing anything wrong. Women in his mind are there to be used. I love him, I hate him, there is no middle ground. I don't feel sorry for him because there is nothing there to feel sorry for. I feel desperately sorry for our children because whatever he is he is their dad and they love him. One day they will all leave home.

anon136543 December 23, 2010 You people are hilarious, except 192, you have some common sense in that if someone is a sociopath, the last thing on their mind would be to get on a forum and prove to the world that they are one. Get over yourselves and quit watching dexter re runs. You may have depression, maybe that's why you feel no emotions. And by the way no sociopath is scary.

anon134131 December 13, 2010 @202: Complete nonsense. ASPD (psychopath-sociopath) feel disgust, but they often don't interpret other people's disgust in their selves. They will often laugh when other people are disgusted by their behavior. ASPD people can be either left or right handed. They can be either left or right brained dominant. You're spreading a bunch of nonsense. Various emotional affects are found in both hemispheres.

anon132122 December 5, 2010 @#200: Sociopaths/pyschopaths can't feel disgust due to the small, undeveloped right-side of their brain. But they feel higher levels of aggression due to the over-compensation of the left side of their brain.

anon131241 December 1, 2010 i think i had been involved with a sociopathic/psychopathic couple, at least one being a sociopath. i know I'm not explaining things well, but i think they have got to be the worst, craziest, sickest people i have ever known. at least people with other "mental illnesses" aren't like that.

anon130522 yesterday I don't know who i was, don't know who i am and don't know where I'm going. i don't recognize myself in the mirror. i feel very angry if someone interrupts me when I'm doing something or if i think they are in my way. i don't care about people going on with their lives as long as they stay out of my way and give me space. if i ask some one who is obviously hurt physically if they are OK i say it the same way i would if they where upset or hurt emotionally. if i say thank you or use any kind of good manners its because i think i have to. i ask people how they feel or what they have been doing but i don't really care. i will barely listen to their answer then tell them i was not listening at all and they have to repeat it. when i make people laugh or smile i see it as an achievement and if they don't see the funny side of the joke i feel angry and disgusted. more on the smile stuff: i don't think i see or feel any happiness, warmth or joy it brings. i don't think i understand their pursuit for that happiness. all i can think is they want me because i make them smile. I don't smile. I only grin and smirk.

anon130230 November 27, 2010 All right, i don't know if i am a sociopath or not, i don't want to be a bad psychopath or some crap. i don't know how i am in people's eyes, i have no idea if i have any personality, i just love money and mcdonalds and i talk about this crap every day because these things are interesting. i care way more about these things than my everyone in my family, maybe with the exception of my brother. when people cry about dead family members i don't care and i just wish they would shut up and stop crying. when i was a kid i killed an animal because i wanted to. it was however, badly injured and would have been dead anyway. i manipulate my mama and teachers that i did it because i felt bad for it and i didn't want it to suffer to death. i didn't care that i had killed the animal. the kids who saw it were just shocked but got manipulated as well. i have manipulated my mom. she gives me everything. and still does. i just tell her to do something and she does it, total control. it's awesome. if i couldn't do that, she would control me, and that's not very fun. i am always bored as heck when some crap happens that i don't care for and sometimes i'm about to fall asleep and i just show huge signs that i don't care, but i never notice that. i am a failure at emotions. i can't feel empathy, only if i can relate. If somebody says that somebody has never tasted mcdonalds i will feel bad but only because i love mcdonalds so much. i don't even feel that bad. it's just for my own personal gain. i will sometimes do helpful things that i never ever do and it makes me feel so bad to help and be polite. i know that a psychopath would never admit he is one, but hey, i am posting anonymously. nobody will know who i am or what i look like, so why would i care? so i can admit it here and nobody will know who i am, so i can be a sociopath because i admit this crap anonymously. but no i don't know what i am. i'm just unexplainable when it comes to these things. people just say what i am but it never feels right when they say what i am. i never give a crap when people compliment a beautiful work about myself, but the work i write about myself isn't about diagnoses like these, only asperger syndrome and i'm apparently not one. i never care when a family member dies and i have only cared for one when i was younger. i don't know what i am, but i think i have just a bit sociopathic crap inside me. not 100 percent-- maybe just a tiny bit. it might not be so bad, so mild or medium that i can admit i might have sociopathic things inside me. i have done lots of bad things that i shouldn't have done, but i don't really care because sometimes doing wrong things are okay, if you know what's good for you and your friends. attempt to help me.

anon130212 November 27, 2010 When I was diagnosed, my wife (at the time) was sitting there next to me and my counselor kind of sheepishly handed across this list of characteristics I had under the antisocial behavior and a few from the narcissistic list as well. It was pretty tragic. She told me there's nothing she can do and it just takes time and effort, something I'll have to get over myself. So now what?

anon130113 November 27, 2010 Post #181: He most likely isn't a psychopath. He is married. And he has hit the jackpot with you.

anon130063 November 26, 2010 I'm only 18 years old, and I know that both of these diagnoses require you to be at least 18, but I've fit this exact description for years. There is no way I could acquire a formal diagnosis without anyone knowing, because I still live with my parents, and I'd rather no one know, especially them. My question is, is it possible for a genuine sociopath/psychopath to almost, in some way, want to change? I haven't wanted to change at all before about two years ago. I know almost everyone says they can't. But, since though I'm obviously not qualified to formally self-diagnose but definitely intelligent enough to know all that applies to a sociopath/psychopath also applies to me, I'm almost completely sure I am one, and sometimes I feel like I'd like to be normal. It honestly doesn't bother me that I hurt people. I don't want to change for that reason. I want to change because sometimes I want to feel something. It seems so easy for everyone else and it's impossible for me. For example, when I'm in a group of happy people, I smile unless no one is looking. But if I look at someone else in that group and it looks as if they don't know anyone is looking, they still smile. It's so incredibly alien to me. I don't understand almost any form of emotion but I'd like to. But, I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to feel anything like that, since it seems like everyone says sociopaths can't change. But, I don't know if they're capable of wanting to. So I'd like to know if I should get over it because I'm not going to change, or if this means I'm actually not a sociopath or a psychopath and just have something else with some tendencies relating to these disorders.

anon129995 November 26, 2010 I like posts 191 and 192. both are entertaining. The article was short and fairly vague. If you think you have a problem, seek professional medical attention to discuss the matter. I've read medical dictionaries with better accuracy of symptoms. Try not read into these articles too much, if you need help you you know you need it, don't be shy. get help.

anon129821 November 25, 2010 I was with a 'bunny boiler'. She was atomic bomb in my life, she put me through the mill. She stole so much money from cvs. It was easily over 50g. She was really smart. I tell people all the time the only person I am scared of is a psychopath. The way she used to set people up to get fired or arrested was like a big game of chess. How she twisted people to believe crap. She could sell water to a well with her slippery sharp mouth. Everyone know her as such a really nice person, but I saw who she really was, how she had a collection for money for her cancer at work and around town. She even takes a shunt on her chest. I saw her one night out side falling on the curb over and over again, then she came inside and said call the cops, that she was raped and molested. So I played along with it because I knew she wasn't right anymore. The cops came, the ambulance, the whole nine yards. She fractured her skull, broke four ribs and broke her wrist. I confronted her 11 days later and she lied and said she was dizzy and confused and fell. The next day children's youth service showed up asking if I beat her kid and they got a report from someone unknown. The bunny boiler blamed my ex. I never touched her kid ever! I loved him! Well anyway, back to the cancer. She had the pills and used to go for treatment and I decided to look in to this and went down to the hospital and talked to some people and she has never stepped foot in the door. then I left her and later found out she told everyone that when we lived there, that I left her and my kid and we were married and I cheated. It was crazy. It was her son. we were never married. She was also hooked on oxycontin. I could go on for hours. And when she got an MRI on her head I was with the doc and one doc made a big deal about brain activity and called in like six other docs to look at whatever he was showing them. I asked and he told me she has a brain disorder and told me it was common and not to worry. Well that's my story of the bunny boiler! And I kept so much stuff out.

anon129319 November 23, 2010 The article isn't bad, but the people posting on here are silly. To all of the self-diagnosed psychopaths/sociopaths (Especially poster 191): If you scary sociopaths/psychopaths really don't care about anything, then why are you taking the time to post this? You obviously care enough to feel compelled to convince others about how scary you are. Sociopaths/Psychopaths, surely, know that something is wrong or different about them. But they don't go out of their way to convince people or tell them their is something wrong with them, they hide it. In fact, you had to physically look up "Sociopath/psychopath" to even get to a page like this, and that is a tell tale sign that you're looking to convince only yourself that you're a big, bad, uncaring psychopath (Most likely because you have such low self-esteems that you overcompensate from being hurt that you try to convince yourself that you "Don't care about other people"). If you knew you were a sociopath/psychopath, why look up the characteristics for these kinds of people? Seriously, you're self-diagnosed people who obviously have bi-polar disorder or borderline personality disorder need to get out more often and stop fantasizing about being 'different'. You're not special or unique, you're just another breathing sack of flesh with an expiration date that won't last more than 70~90 years from now.

anon129235 November 22, 2010 Being a psychopath, I can tell you from experience that much of what they say is true. I have nothing in me that says what is right and wrong, only that which I can get away with. Nothing says killing, raping, or child molestation is "wrong," only that it's not convenient to do so. Jail time isn't a fear, just a very boring life to live. Relationships are entertaining at best, an amusement to pass the time. Each time I begin a new one, I make up another routine, start a new approach, sometimes playing the poor, victimized man who had some bad times. Women fall easy victim to that. Most have a motherly instinct, especially those who have suffered extensively. They look for someone to bond with and believe you're safe because you'd never want to hurt someone, having been through it yourself. The smarter ones, you have to play it off as if you're a stronger man now and have the confidence to play to their vanity. The trick is to say the least amount possible and support them through whatever suffering or current issues they have. Having no family and no real connection with people would make an average person lonely. I don't have that problem. Most of the time I enjoy being alone. As a natural introvert, I don't have much contact with the outside world except when I'm working. Being in the entertainment industry, it allows a balanced exposure to society. The casino industry is a fine cesspool of modern-day society. Most employees and guests have a distorted or damaged view of the world (on the front lines) and one can be in the spotlight or in the shadows without worrying about how others will view you. So, if any of you have negative things to say about how one of us might lead our lives, always know we're really not going to care. Seriously.

anon128804 November 21, 2010 It's funny reading about how all the idiots in common society think a psychopath (or sociopath) has a completely irresistible urge to kill. Think about it? Most likely. Kill? No. I guess my word doesn't matter though, now does it? Have fun with your continuously prejudiced lives. To be honest, it's just amazing to observe.

anon126811 November 14, 2010 I thought the difference between a psychopath and a sociopath was a matter of degree. The psychopath kills people and spends a lot of time in jail and sociopath just hurts people and spends very little time in jail.

anon126809 November 14, 2010 I've had some experience in these matters. I believe the difference between a psychopath and a sociopath is that the psychopath kills people and the sociopath just hurts them.

anon126218 November 11, 2010 I think none of you are psychopaths or sociopaths. We’re all just different, all in different ways. Get used to it. Nobody has a life like you. Nobody. You are genuine. Nobody is seeing your perspective and you see nobody else’s. Makes you feel alone and angry when you think about it on the large scale, but get over it. That’s life. We’re all unique, some for the better, some for the worse. It seems most of you have a lot of bottled up anger. I recommend punching bags and stress relievers. Meditation! A hobby! And those with stories of others, I’m sorry to hear of your bad luck and pain. Quite luckily, I feel like a normal, civilized person. Remorseful, full of good nature and spirit, and not screwed up in the head. Some of you do need help, though, I will say. See a psychologist, not a psychiatrist. You don’t need to help pharmaceutical companies by having them telling you that you need to take a certain drug to be “normal.” Just go out and live life. Experience new things. Meet new people. Stop sheltering yourself in your parents’ basement or in your room. Stop playing the damn video games and get some sunlight. Get a life. You only get one chance. Your thinking will change. For the better. Source: life. And all of those around me who have one as well. Seriously.

anon125742 November 10, 2010 I have found the posts really interesting and would like to share my experience. I had an unsettled childhood and both me and my only sibling ended up as addicts, as a way of self medicating Anyway, to make a long story short, when i finally got clean, i was very vulnerable and met a man who possessed every single trait of a psychopath. Even to the extent he had spent over 18 years in jail for a murder (later found out it was two murders) and i fell hook, line and sinker for the sob story. He even went as far to pretend he lit candles for them and that he had been raped all throughout his childhood by his father, which turned out to be untrue. I tried to rescue him and we married and had a son born on his birthday. Of course, these people can't hide their behavior forever and after a year i began to see he was actually a monster. his behavior got worse, not better and for the sake of the baby I told his probation officer, who recalled him to prison to serve out the rest of his life sentence. This had been his third release on license. My experience has put me off of relationships forever as i can't believe i was taken in by him. our son is now displaying very disturbing traits, i.e. cruelty to animals. i am wondering if this disorder can be inherited and we will be seeing a paediatrician this month.

anon123903 November 3, 2010 #169 hit it on the head. These people make me laugh and I sort of pity that they think they really experienced a psychopath's life. I know one; she actually kills people. She has a friend that does as well but I don't know if she just likes it or if she's one too. She never "doesn't know" that she's manipulating me because she turns it on as soon as I show doubt and as soon as I want to pull away. She scares me. What's worse is that she's threatened me and she's implied that she'd get her friend to do it because she herself wouldn't be stupid enough to actually do the crime in a place she didn't have control over. She is indeed fully aware of what she is doing and how she's able to control things. I'd say she enjoys the power trips but she doesn't take any joy from it, she just does it because it's within her power just as any of us would spit on a sidewalk without a second thought. It frightens me that she's so thoughtful about it, that she plans. I'm sure she's already planned my demise and I'm afraid for the time when she finally gives me an ultimatum in joining her and her friend on their little killing party because if I refuse, I'm dead. If i don't, I'm a killer. If I go and resist, I'm dead. I can't even bring myself to write where we are, her name or any identifying information because if she somehow found out, I'm dead. So, enjoy your stupid self-serving whining about lousy relationships with people who have commitment issues.

anon119469 October 18, 2010 Why would anyone who displays traits associated with psychopathy or sociopathy would bother to explain to anyone of you narrow minded folks where you are wrong? Most of the people here who state they qualify as ASPD and stuff are simple, pathetic drama queens trying to compensate for the inadequacy or anxieties they have. You know it's true. This article is oversimplifying things so much that it made me laugh for a short period of time before I started to feel pity for you. You can't teach the dog to think like a human, neither to fully understand the human, if you catch my drift. Your article is sliding on the surface but fails to give a deeper insight, because you lack the tools to do that. I'm surprised that things like this pose as an educated statement. I'm not surprised that some treat you like objects, if this is your cognitive and analytical ability at it's best. Funny how similar all of you sound. I'll see you soon.

dows October 16, 2010 @Post 181: No disrespect intended, but would you please ask yourself a question; who has the bigger problem, him or you? Someone who would remain in the type of relationship that you have described must have some significant issues of their own, don't you think? Self esteem issues, possibly? Please do yourself a favor and drop this guy like a bad habit and don't look back. Don't ask for respect in a relationship -- demand it!

drdavidcamp October 16, 2010 As an expert in deception, this area is of intense interest to me. I have been doing research covering the literature and case studies of this population and it seems there are differences. Both have an underdeveloped super ego and sub normal levels of key biochemical substances, (neurotransmitters, dopamines, erotonins, oxytocin, etc.). A psychopath exhibits behaviors with no regard for the future or of the emotions of others. However, they are more likely to try and work within the system using their "advanced intelligence" (so they believe) to manipulate others. However, it seems a sociopath may be a psychopath with looser controls on their behavior (more extreme in that they have no regard for social taboos and even take pleasure in violating the most powerful taboos if that serves to stimulate them). I believe their brains lack the ability to properly develop mirror neuron systems or they are unable to get a sufficient response from those they do develop - either way they do not feel the emotions of others until they reach extreme levels.

anon118936 October 16, 2010 I am wondering if the person I am dating is a psychopath. I am seeing a psychologist for anxiety and depression and she thinks he might be. He always cancels dates at the last moment, and gets angry with me if I ask for explanations. He never asks me over to his house. He always want to try different kinds of sexual acts. He never pays for dinner, or has dinner with me. He usually leaves as soon as the sex is done. He lives in a different town and I always pay for a hotel room, he never pays or asks me over to his place. Apart from this he seems very charming and sweet and seems incredibly humble and normal in person.

anon117910 October 12, 2010 Ever since i was a kid, I never had a relationship that I wanted. Never had any friends, was ADHD, thought pain was humorous to the point i would cause pain to others. It's 100 percent impossible to diagnose yourself and by reading this crap you put thoughts into your own head. The way I found out is that my life was a cycle for eight years. I did nothing but what i wanted. I lied to be able to do anything i wanted and i never felt bad. Faked a back injury, convinced doctors, pushed my "IBS" of making it believable to miss 180 days of my last year of high school. When people ask me if I had a hard life, i can only say it's been complicated because I will never stop trying to make sense of it all. I disrespected everyone in my household and no one would stop me. I had friends, was considered popular and spent 5/7 days in my room, playing my video games and lashing out at people. The only people I ever *snapped* on were my parents because i fear the *butterfly effect* per se, since it altered my life. I don't feel bad, i don't get sad, and I've asked myself for years why I couldn't love anything and i realized that I simply can't. It's like living a life for 17 years, thinking that I'm normal when everything about me isn't. If I do feel something, it's flat out awkward. Not only that, but i feel no need for a sexual relationship. I realize the damage i can do, and i think I'm releasing it on myself because I'm the only one that can make sense of what i do and think. I still haven't managed to draw the line, either clinically depressed since the age of nine, been a sociopath or even possibly a psychopath. the thought of hurting people to me is exhilarating and when it comes to my first inspired art, i draw violence, chaos, betrayal, death, murder and mostly pictures that can't have sense made of them until you get to know the one who drew it. Even with all this floating in my mind i stay on the "I am perfectly sane" line. Because the minute i start to believe it, it'll be the minute i start to lose myself and fill my head with thoughts to make myself believe. PS, if you think relatively like this, try to draw logic out of every situation because you can't process anything else, then chances are you have some tendencies. I looked into this once and it aroused my suspicions. The mature thing to do is look into it, and be followed but my state of mind is that you can't change the way my mind works, all that would come out of it is a drug prescription and being labeled mentally unstable. I do think I'm better than society, and it kills me because i know I'm probably not. I just get what people are trying to say when they say something else, when they say they need something i can tell them it's just a want. When they go somewhere to do one thing but have in mind of doing another. Body language, tonality, the angle of which a subject is approached in hopes of getting something out of someone. This is how i make sense of whats going on. I can't say what i am for sure, but clearly, i should look into it.

anon116921 October 8, 2010 Honestly some of you on here, I think want to think that just because someone has done you wrong or has mistreated you in some way makes them a psychopath. In reality, you would have no clue. Psychopaths are always considered the friendliest people in the neighborhood, or on the board of the PTA. They are the coach in little league and the team everyone wants to be on. The dark side they have they let no one see and they have the ability to control it. Yes they can have long term meaningful relationships and long healthy marriages, as well as careers that are extremely productive. Be careful what you think you know about them, because until you actually come in contact with one, you have no clue.

anon115269 October 1, 2010 Originally, the term "psychopath" became "Sociopath" and then became Antisocial Personality Disorder or personality trait but is all the same thing!

anon114226 September 27, 2010 73 - It sounds a bit like Borderline Personality disorder -- and that diagnosis can go either way as far as I've gathered. there's a lot of hope, i believe, either way if you feel bad and want to change.

anon112208 September 19, 2010 I am the daughter of a psychopathic/liar/sociopath who could con his way into your home and take all you have (father). Psychopaths are more often habitual criminals than narcissists. My mother is (was) a drama queen who thought the world revolved only around her. Neither of these people had feelings for their four children and simply used us as pawns in their divorce battle. Both would tell us ugly stories (my dad said he cut the testicles off a guy in prison - this was when I was 12). My mother was sneakier. She was a termite in the family and destroy our egos and self esteem without a second thought. However, out in public and with extended family she was the best person in the world: kind, sympathetic, etc. Ha! In home she was a monster - especially to me, and I think that is because I have inherited all of the feelings of the family and cry, am very sensitive - even to the parents (I cried when they pretended to cry it hurt me so much to see anyone hurt). I am in the middle of writing a book and it will share how often I tried to kill myself to get out of the life I was born into. I could never understand my parents and now that I am 50 and they are both dead I am finally researching just what the hell these people were. My father was diagnosed - but my N mother was not as she appeared so perfect to the outside world. She would never agree to go to a psychiatrist but she sure put her children through the mill with them. I see signs of Narcissism (we all have traits but there are degrees) with all of my siblings but one. The one who is not is an alcoholic trying to come to terms with his upbringing by drowning himself. I prefer the faster way to get out - suicide. Alas, now they are both dead (and yes, I cried and felt deeply for them when they did die). but now I am free - free to be me and learn to love myself the way they could not. God bless.

anon111907 September 18, 2010 @post 173: like you i have been reading extensively about narcissistic personality disorder/psychopath/sociopath trying to understand a clear distinction between these three. I've been researching for three years now and have come to the conclusion they just merge into each other. And to add to the cocktail, there are all the other personality disorders too, as well as aspergers (which is very different but produces some similar outward appearances of behavior), the effects of alcohol and drugs (which people with disorders frequently take to cope with their condition) and even depression. As a survivor of a relationship with a disordered person, my eventual conclusion, after dealing with the five years of total hell that my whatever-they've-got dished out, was - it doesn't really matter, just keep running!

anon111371 September 16, 2010 Can someone explain the true behavioral differences between a narcissist, sociopath and psychopath? I have read so many articles lately my mind is spinning! Each of these conditions seem to overlap. I have also found one article will say one disorder has this behavioral traits while another article will say no, that is the behavior of the one of the other conditions. I feel like I going crazy trying to figure it all out. Any extra insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

dows September 9, 2010 @post 169: You are wrong. The world *is* peppered with sociopaths. Please refer to my other post, no. 166. Ciao

anon109586 September 8, 2010 Ninety percent of these comments, in one way or another, are completely masturbatory. The world's not peppered with sociopaths or psychopaths. They're rather rare conditions, and, chances are, you have neither. Instead of lazily attempting to differentiate yourself from us here slack-jawed normal folk, making ill-informed self-diagnosis, do something constructive. Paint a picture, write a song, -- anything!

anon109042 September 5, 2010 Reading about this definitely explains the kind of people I have happened to come in contact with recently. I had a friend for two and a half years who was a psychopath, and I didn't recognize the warning signs at the beginning such as the fact that he kept telling me he hated people. He even told me one time directly that he was a psychopath, but I didn't believe him. Finally, I realized something was wrong with him and friends and family told me as well. It took a lot of courage, but I decided to cut him off completely from my life. It's been about a year since I last talked to him and I'm fully recovered now, but it took a lot of meditation and exercise to to heal emotionally and mentally. To top that off I was a victim of a psychopath online at around the same time for about a year and a half, and I have to warn you that these kind of people love attacking people online for no reason, but simply just for fun because there are no repercussions, so you need to be extra careful online. I feel stupid for letting these people abuse me for so long, but I feel much wiser now that I'm fully aware of them and I know that by trying to avoid and not talk to them as much as possible, they lose their power. Another thing is that it isn't so black and white, that your either a psychopath or not. There's a lot of grey area and people need to be aware that a lot of people are borderline psychopaths/sociopaths. I believe that my father is borderline psychopath as he displays probably half of the traits that psychopaths possess. On the other hand, I have a brother who is a complete sociopath in that he displays pretty much all of the traits I've read about sociopaths. You also need to be careful about diagnosing any jerk or mean person as a sociopath or a psychopath. For example, I have another brother who can be a jerk and selfish a lot of times and a mother who can get angry and hysterical at people for meaningless things. But they're definitely not sociopathic/psychopathic because they have demonstrated to me many occasions that they do have a conscience, unlike my other brother and father.

anon107663 August 31, 2010 This was such an eye opener for me! My ex seems to be a psychopath based on what's written here. He fits every (and I do mean every) part of the description for a psychop