Johnson, S.A. (2019). Understanding the violent personality: Antisocial Personality Disorder, psychopathy, & sociopathy explored. Forensic Research & Criminology International Journal, 7(2), 76-88. DOI: : 10.15406/frcij.2019.07.00267. 


Understanding the violent personality: Antisocial personality disorder, psychopathy, & sociopathy explored 

Xavier University

Psychopathy and sociopathy are considered to be more extreme forms of ASPD. Despite ASPD, psychopathy, and sociopathy being frequently mixed up and used interchangeably, there are distinct differences between them that are often not clearly defined.  One distinction between the three conditions is that an ASPD diagnosis focuses a lot on  behavior. Sociopathy and psychopathy diagnoses also focus on these behaviors but also consider an individual's level of callousness, unemotional mindset, and lack of remorse. Furthermore, psychopaths and sociopaths exhibit more extreme interpersonal and behavioral characteristics. Additionally, psychopaths and sociopaths are more likely to demonstrate more severe criminal behavior, tend to cause more severe harm to others, and to not respond to any form of treatment.

Differences Between ASPD, Psychopathy, and Sociopathy:

An effective treatment for sociopathy and psychopathy as not yet been found. Individuals with ASPD and/or psychopathy fail treatment at higher rates and in some cases, their condition as worsened. Though there is currently no effective treatment, it is believed that children with sociopathy, whose psychopathic traits develop as a result of a negative environment, may have more success in long term treatment programs. 

Differences Between ASPD, Psychopathy, and Sociopathy: Treatment Outcomes 

Differences Between ASPD, Psychopathy, and Sociopathy References 

It is a common belief that the term psychopath is the term used to describe those with ASPD. An individual with ASPD may also be a psychopath but this is not always the cause as they are two separate and different diagnoses. Psychopaths and those with ASPD who are also psychopaths engage in greater and more severe criminal activity, greater criminal versatility, and more impaired emotional responses. Psychopaths also have less of the Harm Avoidance trait which means that they are not afraid of responses and consequences for their actions. 

Differences Between ASPD, Psychopathy, and Sociopathy: ASPD vs Psychopathy 

One of the major differences between sociopathy and psychopathy is what causes them to develop. The development of ASPD is significantly correlated with an adverse family environment during childhood. Psychopathy has been linked to brain abnormalities such as amygdala and prefrontal cortex dysfunction. On the other hand, sociopathy, is linked more to environment factors. Its possible that a person may develop sociopathy if they have lower level psychopathic traits that are trigged by adverse experiences during childhood. 

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