We explain what a psychopath is and what their characteristics and causes are. In addition, their origin and their differences with sociopath.
What is a psychopath?
In psychology and psychiatry, a psychopath is someone who suffers from an antisocial personality disorder (APD) that diminishes or prevents their capacity for empathy and makes it difficult for them to adapt to social environments with pre-established norms, such as laws, individual rights or collective well-being.
People with this condition, therefore, have difficulty adjusting to social norms and conventions, which can lead to antisocial, criminal or amoral behavior. You must read about Indie once.
However, psychopaths are not necessarily violent nor are they always linked to the criminal world. Psychopathy covers a psychological spectrum with different degrees of manifestation, which can include functional and socially successful people.
Generally, those with psychopathic traits exhibit effective anesthesia, that is, absence of guilt and remorse in the face of the suffering of others. This can manifest itself selectively or be hidden by simulating emotions, especially when it favors the achievement of personal goals.
The term “psychopath” comes from the Greek words psyké (“mind”) and pathos (“illness”). In its origin, it referred to any mental illness. The current definition is a modern creation, developed from the emergence of mental sciences such as psychology and psychiatry.
Origin of the word “psychopath”
KEY POINTS
- A psychopath is a person with antisocial personality disorder, characterized by a lack of empathy, an inability to adapt to social norms, and manipulative behaviors.
- Psychopathic people present dysfunctions in cognitive, affective, interpersonal, and behavioral traits. For example, exaggerated self-esteem, lack of remorse, tendency to manipulation, and seeking immediate gratification.
- Psychopathy is a personality disorder that presents a lack of empathy and antisocial behaviors, while sociopathy involves greater impulsivity and difficulty maintaining stable relationships.
- The causes of psychopathy are explained through neurological models (dysfunctions in the frontal lobe), physiological models (greater search for sensations and deficits in the inhibition of behaviors in the face of punishment), and psychosocial models (influence of the family and social environment).
Characteristics of a psychopathic person
The clinical features from which psychopathy is determined may vary depending on the approach used, since there are discrepancies when establishing patterns in this regard. In general, psychopathy has been conceptualized as a set of cognitive, affective, interpersonal and behavioral traits. Maybe you should definitely read about Animals once.
Cognitive traits
The most common cognitive traits are:
- Exaggerated self-esteem and feeling of omnipotence.
- Lack of nervousness in typically stressful situations.
- Active search for self-satisfaction, with contempt for others and disregard for their motivations and rights.
- Distrust of others and malicious interpretations of their actions.
Affective traits
The most common affective traits are:
- Affective superficiality and poverty in social relationships.
- Lack of remorse, guilt and empathy.
- Inadequate anger management (disproportionate reactions or use of anger as a control tactic).
Interpersonal traits
The most common interpersonal traits are:
- Manipulation through seductive and persuasive skills.
- Loquacity and superficial charm, with great verbal ability and intelligence.
- Propensity to systematic lying and low reliability.
Behavioral traits
The most common behavioral traits are:
- Constant need for stimulation and tendency to boredom.
- Inability to fulfill commitments or assume responsibilities in various areas of life, such as work, family and social life.
- Search for immediate gratification.
- Recurrent behaviors of cruelty, manipulation or sadism.
- Parasitic lifestyle, dependent on others.
Causes of Psychopathy
The causes of psychopathy are explained through various models, which include neurological, physiological, and psychosocial factors.
- Neurological factors: Dysfunctions in the frontal lobe may influence planning ability and impulse control. However, scientific studies have not yet managed to consistently support this hypothesis.
- Physiological factors: Increased sensation seeking, accompanied by heightened sensitivity to rewards and difficulties in inhibiting behaviors in the face of punishment, may contribute to impulsivity and a predisposition to antisocial behavior.
- Psychosocial factors: Specific experiences, such as dysfunctional family dynamics, may contribute to the development of deficiencies in the ability to assume social roles and understand other people’s perspectives.
Origin of Psychopathy
The idea that there are people who are incapable of following social norms has been present since ancient times, long before the appearance of the term “psychopath.”
Scientific studies on psychopathy as a syndrome began in the 19th century. Doctors such as Philippe Pinel (1745-1826) classified it as a type of mania, characterized by the absence of cognitive deficiencies, but with serious emotional disturbances.
Later, in 1835, the British doctor James Howard Prichard (1786-1848) described it as a “moral madness”, referring to a disorder in which intellectual processes remained intact, while feelings and affections showed disturbances.
Despite being a psychiatric condition difficult to identify, the most significant advances on psychopathy have occurred since 2000. However, the term has been present in popular culture for a long time, generally associated with crime, violence and criminal behavior.
Differences between psychopathy and sociopathy
The terms “sociopathy” and “psychopathy” are often used synonymously. Both describe pathologically asocial behaviors that fit the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder (ASD).
However, there are differences between the two disorders. On the one hand, the psychopath uses aggression as an instrument to achieve his ends in a rational and calculated manner, while the sociopath acts impulsively.
In addition, psychopathy is mainly associated with biological factors, which affect the ability to feel empathy or remorse. In contrast, sociopathy has a mostly environmental origin, which derives from traumatic experiences or dysfunctional family environments.
