Are the psychopath, sociopath, and someone with the Antisocial Personality Condition one and the same? The DSM says “yes”. The psychopath has antisocial characteristics for sure but they are combined with and boosted by callousness, ruthlessness, extreme lack of compassion, deficient impulse control, deceitfulness, and sadism.
The psychopath refuses to comply with social norms and follow the law. He typically causes discomfort and damage on his victims. But does that make this pattern of conduct a mental illness?
The psychopath has no conscience or empathy. Is this always pathological? Like narcissists, psychopaths lack empathy and regard other individuals as mere instruments of gratification or as challenge be manipulated.
Most people accept that others have rights and commitments. The psychopath declines this. As far as he is worried, just might is right.
Individuals have no rights and he, the psychopath, has no commitments that stem from the “social contract”.
The psychopath holds himself to be above standard morality and the law. The psychopath can not delay gratification.
He wants everything and wants it now. His whims, prompts, catering to his requirements, and the satisfaction of his drives take precedence over the requirements, choices, and feelings of even his nearest and dearest.
As a result, psychopaths feel no remorse when they injure or defraud others. They don’t have even the most primary conscience. They rationalize their behavior and intellectualize it. Psychopaths fall victim to their own primitive defense reaction.
The psychopath strongly believes that the world is a hostile, ruthless place, prone to the survival of the fittest which people are either “all great” or “all wicked”. Psychopaths are abusively exploitative and incapable of true love or intimacy.
Psychopaths are irresponsible and undependable. They do not honor agreements, endeavors, and commitments.
They are unstable and unpredictable and seldom work for long, repay their financial obligations, or preserve long-term intimate relationships.
Are the psychopath, sociopath, and someone with the Antisocial Character Disorder one and the same? The psychopath has antisocial traits for sure however they are coupled with and boosted by callousness, ruthlessness, extreme absence of compassion, deficient impulse control, deceitfulness, and sadism.
The psychopath declines to adhere to social norms and follow the law. The psychopath has no conscience or compassion. Like narcissists, psychopaths do not have compassion and regard other people as simple instruments of satisfaction or as items to be controlled.