Psychopath vs. Sociopath?

[SilverKnight]

I was reading a thread over on the DC Animated Universe thread that defined 'psychopath' as a person who is in full grip of their faculties, but possess a severe superiority complex and holds no feeling or remorse for the pain and suffering they cause others. (Seriously paraphrased.) I was under the impression that was the definition of a sociopath, so I looked it up and found that the two are apparently interchangable.

Personally, that doesn't make sense to me. Could any possibly clarify any differences between a 'psychopath' and a 'sociopath'? (And whlie we're at it, could someone tell me what a 'meglomaniac' is? I hear that word thrown around a lot, also.) Thanks. :)

[Outlander00]

If my memory serves me correctly... A sociopath is someone who, basically, is apathetic (and/or has no sense of right and wrong) yet is still in in his/her right mind (knows difference of reality and fantasy). A Psychopath is someone who has no sense of anything at all (right or wrong, reality and fantasy, etc.)

Example: Martha Stewart could be considered a sociopath where as "The Son of Sam" is cleary a psychopath.

As far as Megalomaniac, basically you could say it is a psychopath who is obsessed with power, money, and omnipotence.

[Xada-Hgla]

I was reading a thread over on the DC Animated Universe thread that defined 'psychopath' as a person who is in full grip of their faculties, but possess a severe superiority complex and holds no feeling or remorse for the pain and suffering they cause others. (Seriously paraphrased.) I was under the impression that was the definition of a sociopath, so I looked it up and found that the two are apparently interchangable.

Personally, that doesn't make sense to me. Could any possibly clarify any differences between a 'psychopath' and a 'sociopath'?
Well, psychopath implies antisocial behaviour brought about from mental illness, while sociopath implies simply antisocial behaviour. But in truth, they're still quite similar...

(And whlie we're at it, could someone tell me what a 'meglomaniac' is? I hear that word thrown around a lot, also.) Thanks. :)
That's easier... Merriam-Webster defines it as:

1 : a mania for great or grandiose performance
2 : a delusional mental disorder that is marked by infantile feelings of personal omnipotence and grandeur

Hope that helps! :D

[SilverKnight]

Okay, so why does this Dr. Hare (http://slate.msn.com/id/2099203/) say differently? Is he just flat out wrong, or what? This is why I'm so confused. Stupid news. How dare they. :p

[FredNash]

Psychopaths are simply people diagnosed with psychotic disorders. This can mean anything, but in pop culture, it usually means megalomania (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=10&q=megalomania). Theres a pretty good short article, written in plain english, describing various psychoses here (http://my.webmd.com/content/article/60/67147). Although paranoia (http://www.genesishealth.com/micromedex/detaileddisease/00059820.aspx) and schizophrenia (http://www.schizophrenia.com/) are psychoses, and somtimes those are followed by hallucinations, usually psychopaths are simply depressed, often suicially so. But can you imagine how boring comics would be if the villains just sat around moping untill they shot themselves? Not very exciting.

As for sociopaths, they could be called anti-social, but that's kind of misleading. You can also lump a sociopath along with the psychopaths and be correct, but a more detailed definition is possible. Simply being anti-social doen't make you a sociopath, you have to actively strike out at society. Most criminals are sociopaths, because they violently act out towards others. That's not just anti-social, it's sociopathic. Another good article. (http://my.webmd.com/content/article/26/1728_59230.htm?lastselectedguid={5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348})

Hope this helps!

[SilverKnight]

Ah. Well, that answers my question. :D Thanks. >hands FredNash cookies<

[FredNash]

mmmmm... cookies...