One study estimated that 3.8% of Americans meet criteria for "antisocial personality disorder" (ASPD).

You may still deal - in the family, work or friends environment - with a nervous person with limited friendships and social skills, without expecting that he is a "sociopath".

And perhaps there are those around you who seem well educated, occupy a position, have charming qualities and remarkable intelligence, and have the confidence of others, without you discovering for a long time that what he shows is just a bright outer shell or a “mask” that hides the lack of the internal structure of a psychopathic person. .

According to the leading American psychiatrist Dr. Hervey Milton Clickley in his famous book "The Mask of the Mind" circulating since 1941.

Given that psychopathy and sociopathy are two branches of "antisocial personality disorder", it is not surprising that there is a great deal of confusion between them in the minds of many, which leads us to present their main signs, their similarities and differences, as well as the extent to which they can be treated.

A sociopath is someone who does not care about anyone's feelings (social networking sites)

two different disorders

"Some people think psychopathy is more dangerous than sociopathy, but that's not true at all, they are both psychopaths and sociopaths," says psychiatrist Dr. Prakash Masand.

Sociopathy is a form of antisocial personality disorder, and a sociopath is a person who does not care about anyone's feelings, thinks only of their own interests, and is not preoccupied with the effect of their actions on others.

It's behavior that California psychologist Carla Manley describes as "full of lies and manipulation."

Dr. Donald W. Black, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Iowa, says, “Although sociopathy is a syndrome characterized by lifelong misconduct;

Affected people tend to be "deceiving and impulsive, ignoring responsibilities, and often unscrupulous", but it is wrong to use the terms "sociopath" and "psychopath" to describe all situations, because they are different.

Most sociopaths are prone to impulsive behavior and are often seen as restless or dysfunctional.

While psychopathy is cold and sensitive, sometimes it is attractive.

So we find that “almost all psychopaths are antisocial, but not all psychopaths are necessarily antisocial.”

Also, while psychopaths have high IQs, they win jobs.

Sociopaths are often poorly educated, and most are unemployed.

We also find psychopaths are charismatic characters who do not regret, wear a "mind mask" and are good at exploiting others.

Sociopaths are not attractive, but annoying anarchists.

A psychopath is a charismatic figure who has no regrets (Getty Images)

9 signs to discover the condition

To be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, a person must be at least 18 years old, have a history of aggression, rule-breaking, and deceit, dating back to their childhood.

Along with other red flags to watch out for, such as:

  • Lack of empathy Lack of empathy and lack of remorse is a sign of people with antisocial personality disorder, "most of them - especially psychopaths - lack conscience."

    According to Dr. Black.

  • Difficult relationships. "People with antisocial personality disorder find it difficult to form emotional bonds, so their relationships are often unstable and chaotic," says Dr. Black.

    Instead of establishing normal contacts with others, they try to exploit them for their own benefit through deception and intimidation.

  • Maneuvering, sociopaths tend to try to seduce the people around them to achieve their own goals, although this does not mean that they are all charismatic.

    "I met a lot of antisocial people, and I didn't find any magic in them," says Dr. Black.

  • Deceit: Sociopaths are known to be dishonest and deceitful, and often prefer to lie to reach their goals, or to get themselves out of trouble.

    They welcome the truth if it helps them.

  • Irresponsibility. Ignoring financial and social obligations is a sign of antisocial personality disorder.

    “Ignoring responsibilities, such as not paying child expenses, letting bills pile up and taking a lot of time off work, is all too common,” says Dr. Black.

  • Risky behavior. They often engage in risky behavior, combining irresponsibility, impulsivity, and the need for immediate gratification, without concern for the safety of others or the safety of themselves.

  • Cruelty. People with antisocial personality disorder tend to display a harsh disregard for the feelings of others, and some may be downright violent and aggressive.

  • Hostility Sociopaths are not only hostile to themselves, but are more likely to interpret the behavior of others as hostile, leading them to seek revenge.

  • Rush, Dr. Black says, "They find it very difficult to make a plan and stick to it."

Antisocial personality disorder treatment

“Treating these conditions can help relieve some symptoms and reduce side effects, especially in milder cases,” says Dr. Black, but it is unusual for a sociopath to seek professional help, as “a general lack of insight is one of the most important characteristics of this condition.” kind of disorder."

Sociopaths may realize they have problems, they may know their spouses are not happy with them, they may know they are having a crisis at work but they tend to blame others and circumstances.

But the good news is that the symptoms of this disorder may diminish with age, says Dr. Black, who advises at the same time, "If you know someone with antisocial personality disorder, the best thing to do is to stay away, avoid them as best you can, because they will complicate your life." ".

This is confirmed by Carla Manley, saying, "Sociopaths often enjoy destroying the self-confidence of others and keeping them away from family and friends."