Psychopath

[abbey1227]

Watching a series on Netflix called EVIL and the word came up...........found a few things.......

Antisocial personality disorder

Also known as: ASPD, sociopathy

OVERVIEW
SYMPTOMS
DIAGNOSIS
TREATMENT

An enduring pattern of behavior characterized by disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others.

How common is condition?

Common (More than 200,000 cases per year in US)

Is condition treatable?

Treatments can help manage condition, no known cure

Does diagnosis require lab test or imaging?

Doesn't require lab test or imaging

Psychopath

Signs
Diagnosis
vs. Sociopath
Outlook
Takeaway

What is a psychopath?

Few psychology terms stir up confusion like the word psychopath. Even though it’s commonly used to describe someone who has a mental illness, psychopath is not an official diagnosis.

The true definition of a psychopath in psychiatry is antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), explains Dr. Prakash Masand, a psychiatrist and the founder of the Centers of Psychiatric Excellence. ASPD describes an individual who shows patterns of manipulation and violation to others.

Masand says the one thing that can be confusing about ASPD are the words “anti-social.”

“Most people might assume this describes someone who is reserved, a loner, keeps to himself, etc. However, this is not the case in ASPD,” he explains. “When we say anti-social in ASPD, it means someone who goes against society, rules, and other behaviors that are more commonplace.”

Common signs of psychopathy

Since the term psychopath is not an official diagnosis, experts refer to the signs described under ASPD. According to Masand, some of the more common signs to be aware of include:

socially irresponsible behavior
disregarding or violating the rights of others
inability to distinguish between right and wrong
difficulty with showing remorse or empathy
tendency to lie often
manipulating and hurting others
recurring problems with the law
general disregard towards safety and responsibility

Other behaviors that may be signs of ASPD include a tendency to take risks, reckless behavior, and being deceitful with frequent lying.

Masand says someone exhibiting this behavior may also lack deep emotional connections, have a superficial charm about them, be very aggressive, and get very angry sometimes.

Additionally, people with ASPD don’t care if they have hurt someone, are impulsive and abusive, and lack remorse. In the case of ASPD, abusive doesn’t necessarily mean violent.

In addition to the signs and behaviors, Masand says there are certain traits associated with ASPD:

More men than women have this diagnosis.

Technically, to receive an ASPD diagnosis, you have to be 18 years of age. But some people will show signs of conduct disorder, which may be an early indicator of ASPD, as early as age 11.

It’s a chronic condition that seems to improve with age.

Mortality rates are higher in people with ASPD because of their behavior.

[Prometheus]

Soooo.... Trump

[gardengirl1953]

Jun 30, 2021 8:38:55 GMT abbey1227 said:

Watching a series on Netflix called EVIL and the word came up...........found a few things.......

Antisocial personality disorder

Also known as: ASPD, sociopathy

OVERVIEW
SYMPTOMS
DIAGNOSIS
TREATMENT

An enduring pattern of behavior characterized by disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others.

How common is condition?

Common (More than 200,000 cases per year in US)

Is condition treatable?

Treatments can help manage condition, no known cure

Does diagnosis require lab test or imaging?

Doesn't require lab test or imaging

Psychopath

Signs
Diagnosis
vs. Sociopath
Outlook
Takeaway

What is a psychopath?

Few psychology terms stir up confusion like the word psychopath. Even though it’s commonly used to describe someone who has a mental illness, psychopath is not an official diagnosis.

The true definition of a psychopath in psychiatry is antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), explains Dr. Prakash Masand, a psychiatrist and the founder of the Centers of Psychiatric Excellence. ASPD describes an individual who shows patterns of manipulation and violation to others.

Masand says the one thing that can be confusing about ASPD are the words “anti-social.”

“Most people might assume this describes someone who is reserved, a loner, keeps to himself, etc. However, this is not the case in ASPD,” he explains. “When we say anti-social in ASPD, it means someone who goes against society, rules, and other behaviors that are more commonplace.”

Common signs of psychopathy

Since the term psychopath is not an official diagnosis, experts refer to the signs described under ASPD. According to Masand, some of the more common signs to be aware of include:

socially irresponsible behavior
disregarding or violating the rights of others
inability to distinguish between right and wrong
difficulty with showing remorse or empathy
tendency to lie often
manipulating and hurting others
recurring problems with the law
general disregard towards safety and responsibility

Other behaviors that may be signs of ASPD include a tendency to take risks, reckless behavior, and being deceitful with frequent lying.

Masand says someone exhibiting this behavior may also lack deep emotional connections, have a superficial charm about them, be very aggressive, and get very angry sometimes.

Additionally, people with ASPD don’t care if they have hurt someone, are impulsive and abusive, and lack remorse. In the case of ASPD, abusive doesn’t necessarily mean violent.

In addition to the signs and behaviors, Masand says there are certain traits associated with ASPD:

More men than women have this diagnosis.

Technically, to receive an ASPD diagnosis, you have to be 18 years of age. But some people will show signs of conduct disorder, which may be an early indicator of ASPD, as early as age 11.

It’s a chronic condition that seems to improve with age.

Mortality rates are higher in people with ASPD because of their behavior.

That has long been confusing to me, the use of the term "anti-social".  This clarifies it. Also, 'abusive doesn’t necessarily mean violent.'

I think that people who have survived abuse are more numerous than might be thought.  Because a psychopath can be so charming and manipulative, other people don't see the abuse. They say stuff like, "Oh, that's just all in your head" or "You're just making that up", which further traumatizes the person who is or has been abused. And many times those people retreat more into themselves because no one understands them. But put two survivors of abuse together and they both get it. Kind of a radar, knowing what someone else means when they use certain words or engage in certain behavior.

There should be more support groups for survivors of abuse.  I'll wager that most of them are fairly lonely people.

[Guest]

Apr 20, 2023 23:00:14 GMT gardengirl1953 said:

... 'abusive doesn’t necessarily mean violent.'

I think that people who have survived abuse are more numerous than might be thought.  Because a psychopath can be so charming and manipulative, other people don't see the abuse. They say stuff like, "Oh, that's just all in your head" or "You're just making that up", which further traumatizes the person who is or has been abused. And many times those people retreat more into themselves because no one understands them. But put two survivors of abuse together and they both get it. Kind of a radar, knowing what someone else means when they use certain words or engage in certain behavior.

There should be more support groups for survivors of abuse.  I'll wager that most of them are fairly lonely people.

Totally agree ! Am stating the obvious, but abuse happens on-line as well as "in "real" life and perhaps more often because of the anonymity and depersonalization available in that medium.

People who have been verbally targeted on-line by a popular charming psychopath, and foolishly comment on it, are told "Sticks and stone may break your bones but words can never hurt you", "It's just words", "It's the internet, not real people so just get over it!", "They've always been nice to me" etc.

All this does nothing to lessen the trauma or the memory of the fact that it happens and to make it worse, others join the psycho and no one speaks up against the abuse.

[[-Azrael-]]

Or more briefly this ha:


The traits of a psychopath and a sociopath are “the same,” according to Kiehl, with both falling under the clinical diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder.

However, in terms of social construction, the two terms are viewed somewhat differently. Specifically:

-Sociopaths tend to act more impulsively and erratically compared to psychopaths.

-Sociopaths generally struggle to maintain a job or a family life, whereas psychopaths may be able to do so.

-While psychopaths generally struggle to form attachments, sociopaths may be able to do so with a like-minded individual.

-Psychopaths may be better able to disassociate from their actions and experience less guilt than sociopaths.

[gardengirl1953]

Mar 24, 2024 2:15:17 GMT [-Azrael-] said:

Or more briefly this ha:


The traits of a psychopath and a sociopath are “the same,” according to Kiehl, with both falling under the clinical diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder.

However, in terms of social construction, the two terms are viewed somewhat differently. Specifically:

-Sociopaths tend to act more impulsively and erratically compared to psychopaths.

-Sociopaths generally struggle to maintain a job or a family life, whereas psychopaths may be able to do so.

-While psychopaths generally struggle to form attachments, sociopaths may be able to do so with a like-minded individual.

-Psychopaths may be better able to disassociate from their actions and experience less guilt than sociopaths.

When I was watching Criminal Minds, back in its earlier seasons, I think the differentiation was made that psychopaths were more leaders and sociopaths more followers. As in the couple who were killing people in gas stations... the male seemed to be the leader and the female was more compliant, until it was revealed that she had initiated the relationship by killing the male's girlfriend. She was actually the initiator of the killing spree, therefore, the psychopath.