Difference between a sociopath and a psychopath?

Question

Are all sociopath/psychopaths potential murderers or do most lead normal lives?

Answer 1

i rather thank that th terms are interchangeable. Sociologists would say sociopath , psychologists would say psychopath in any case put an Ocean between you and they , unfortunately it is thought that i in 30 people are so. No they do not all go on to murder people some just go on to make the lives of the people around them a living hell and the mind doctors cant or wont do anything because their poor little sickies .
A lot in fact are business men and a ruthless going on to destroy anyone who they take a dislike to which they find easy particularly anyone who damages their self narcissistic image and you are only as good as you go along with that . also do not go along with the stereo type that they are all Male they are a lot of very cunning Cruella de Villes out there and Bunny Boilers However obvious examples are Maxwell , Stalin , Hitler ,Pol Pot etc etc

Answer 2

The difference between sociopathy and psychopathy, according to Hare, may "reflect the user's views on the origins and determinates of the disorder."[34] Most sociologists, criminologists and even some psychologists believe the disorder is caused by social conflicts, and thus prefer the term 'sociopath.' Those who believe as Hare does, that a combination of psychological, biological, genetic and environmental factors all contribute to the disorder are more likely to use the term 'psychopath'.

David T. Lykken proposes that psychopathy and sociopathy are two distinct kinds of antisocial personality. He holds that psychopaths are born with temperamental differences such as impulsivity, cortical underarousal, and fearlessness that lead them to risk-seeking behavior and an inability to internalize social norms; sociopaths, on the other hand, have relatively normal temperaments; their personality disorder being more an effect of negative sociological factors like parental neglect, delinquent peers, poverty, and extremely low or extremely high intelligence. Both personality disorders are, of course, the result of an interaction between genetic predispositions and environmental factors, but psychopathy leans towards the hereditary whereas sociopathy tends towards the environmental

Answer 3

From my source:

"Antisocial personality disorder (APD) is a personality disorder which is often characterised by antisocial and impulsive behaviour. APD is generally (if controversially) considered to be the same as, or similar to, the disorder that was previously known as psychopathic or sociopathic personality disorder. Approximately 3% of men and 1% of women have some form of antisocial personality disorder (source: DSM-IV)."

So yeah, they're similar and somewhat ambiguous terms. Generally, a sociopath is someone who is antisocial, whereas a psychopath has let their sociopathy turn criminal or violent.

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

sociopath may kill and have regrets while the other murders without feelings.