A sociopath in Hollywood is often defined as a sadistic, self-indulging serial killer, which can be seen in the movie Psycho, or the movie, Silence of The Lambs. In reality, it is a single part in a variety of social disorders causing the individual to have different traits then a “traditional” persona. Since the social disorders can, and often accompany sociopathy, it is worth learning about them in order to distinguish the different disorders a person may have. There are four clusters that hold different types of personality disorders, each type with different traits. The clusters that social disorders are grouped into are Cluster A, Cluster B, Cluster C, and non-specified/uncategorized. Disorders do commonly crossover in the form of subtypes, …show more content…
Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD) is a disorder with characteristics of paranoia and a pervasive, longstanding suspiciousness, and generalized mistrust of others. PPD also can cause the afflicted to go into psychotic episodes if induced to stress lasting from a few minutes, to hours. If long lasting, the disorder can develop into Delusional Disorder, or Schizophrenia. As described by the Cleveland Clinic, “People with schizoid personality disorder also tend to be distant, detached, and indifferent to social relationships. They generally are loners who prefer solitary activities and rarely express strong emotion.” While it does not sound serious, SPD does cause a lot of anguish in social situation, even going as far as to hate all sex due to the intimacy associated with it. Schizotypal Personality Disorder (STPD) while similar in some ways to SDP the two disorders are different in a few ways, namely they feel anxiety in social situations as opposed to a lack of interest. People with STPD often have very odd behavior, thinking, and beliefs, as well as a peculiar form of dressing and …show more content…
Depressive Personality Disorder is controversial in its classification as a personality disorder as it is shares only a few classifications as a personality disorder, so its definition will not be listed. Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder is best described by the DSM-IV Appendix B definition, “Often overtly ambivalent, wavering indecisively from one course of action to its opposite. They may follow an erratic path that causes endless wrangles with others and disappointment for themselves." Sadistic Personality Disorder is when a person gets pleasure from other people’s discomfort. Masochistic Personality Disorder is a proposed personality disorder, but since it is not an official disorder its definition will not be listed. Psychopathy is a complicated subject as it is not really a single definable Personality Disorder as the definition has changed a lot through time and is not an officially recognized diagnosis by any psychiatric or psychological organization. The broad definition of Psychopathy is defined as enduring anti-social behavior, diminished empathy and remorse, and disinhibited or bold
Psychopathy has fascinated the public for years due to the gruesome and evil portrayal it has received in the media. Psychopathy is defined in the DSM-III as a personality disorder characterized by enduring antisocial behavior, diminished empathy and remorse, and disinhibited or bold behavior (Patrick, Christopher, Fowles, Krueger, Rober, 2009). Psychopathy represents a cluster of different dimensions of personality found amongst the general population to varying degrees (Patrick et al, 2009). The diagnostic definition is meant to be applied to adults, however psychopathology can occur in children. Controversy surrounds the topic of childhood mental illness because the brain is not fully developed until the age of 18; thus allowing the possibility that symptoms are the result of growing up and will change. The triarchic model, formulated by Christopher J. Patrick, is the most commonly used model in diagnosing adult and childhood psychopathy. This model suggests that different conceptions of psychopathy emphasize three observable characteristics to varying degrees; boldness, disinhibition and meanness (Patrick, et al, 2009). Boldness is the first observable characteristic and is comprised of low fear including stress-tolerance, toleration of unfamiliarity and danger, and high self-confidence and social assertiveness. Disinhibition; characterized by poor impulse control including problems with planning and foresight, lacking affect and urge control, demand for immediate gratification, and poor behavioral restraints. Meanness is defined as lacking empathy and close attachments with others, disdain of close attachments, use of cruelty to gain empowerment, exploitative tendencies, defiance of authority, and destructive excitement seek...
A well-known personality disorder is psychopathy. Psychopathy’s shortened term “psycho” is often used as a slang term to mean crazy. Psychopathy is a real issue caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Psychopathic people have traits “common to some serial murderers, including sensation seeking, a lack of remorse or guilt, impulsivity, the need for control, and predatory behavior. These traits and behaviors are consistent with the psychopathic personality disorder” (Morton). Psychopathic tendencies are most common among killers. Although, “serial killers suffer from a variety of personality disorders, including psychopathy, anti-social personality, and others” (Morton). With psychopathy in a serial killer they feel they have a valid and justifiable reason for killing three or more people. With psychopathic killers feel their motives make their killing okay. Serial killers have “many other motivations for serial murders including anger, thrill, financial gain, and attention seeking” (Morton). A common motive for serial killers is revenge. They feel that someone did them wrong, much like a person who was abused as a child. They feel they have a valid excuse for murdering the person that abused them or substitutes if they find that object of their rage unreachable. Another common motive is simply anger. With anger it is more often than not that they do not have a target. They are just angry and are willing to kill anybody to cope with it. Antisocial personality disorder is often in people who show “a lack of remorse and/or guilt, shallow affect, a lack of empathy, and failure to accept responsibility” (Morton). Antisocial personality disorder is similar to psychopathic personality disorder yet, it remains different. The Behavior Analysis Unit at the Federal Bureau of Investigation stated, “Psychopathy is a personality disorder
The Psychopathy Checklist Revised (PCL-R) measures twenty-two behavioural characteristics or lack thereof that have been previously identified as the defining characteristics of a psychopath by Cleckley as well as other influential clinicians. Hare measures these characteristics on a three point scale ranging from 0-1. In addition Factors are used to group thematically similar behaviors. For instance, persons prone to boredom, whom share a lack of realistic long term plans, live a parasitic lifestyle and act on impulse, have been grouped together in Factor 1. Factor 2 measures those persons with a lack of remorse of guilt, failure to accept responsibility for own actions, a lack of sincerity/conning, egocentricity, glibness/superficial charm, drug or alcohol abuse which is not the direct cause of the antisocial behaviour, and callousness or lack of empathy. Factor 3 co...
Ogloff, J. R. (2006). Psychopathy/antisocial personality disorder conundrum. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, (40), 519-528.
Sociopaths are prevalent among society, and some researchers, like Martha Stout, claim that one out of every twenty-five people is a sociopath. However, this statistic is incorrect. This statistic is based on the assumption that sociopaths and psychopaths are the same people—which is untrue. While the sociopathic and psychopathic traits overlap, sociopaths differ in that they are obviously nervous and agitated, unable to create the illusions that psychopaths are so proud of. They live on the fringes of society, uneducated and unable to keep a steady job. Psychopaths, unlike sociopaths, are suave and able to maintain an illusion of conformity and maintain relationships on a superficial level. Both, however, are dominantly male, tend to disregard the rights and social mores of others, and have a tendency display violent and disruptive outbursts without remorse. Unlike psychopaths, who completely lack remorse and the ability to love, sociopaths may attach themselves to certain people, though they still remain contemptuous of the rest of humanity (7).
Primary and Secondary are the main categories of a psychopath but there are also four different subtypes to help further distinguish the different types of psychopaths there are in society. These subtypes are Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Sadistic Personality Disorder.
Schizotypal personality disorder (SPD), is considered by many as part of the schizophrenic spectrum. It is characterized by discomfort with other people, peculiar patterns of thinking and behavior, and eccentricity. These may take the form of cognitive or perceptual disturbances. Yet, unlike schizophrenia, these psychotic symptoms are not as fully developed as delusions or hallucinations but instead can be characterized as perceptual illusions. A person suffering from SPD might become extremely anxious in social situations, especially those involving strangers. Schizotypal patients also tend to be overly suspicious of others and are not prone to trust others or to relax in their presence.
Depictions of psychopaths today have become exaggerated based off of what you see in movies and films. The psychopaths in movies are believed to be dangerous or have an anti-social personality disorder. Not all psychopaths can be defined in that manner. Psychopaths are identified as people who are emotionally unstable. They are ultimately suffering from a chronic mental disorder with abnormal or violent social behavior. There have been studies ultimately wondering if a psychopath is born, or is it raised? Genetics and environment combine to produce conditions that create psychopathology. By paying attention to environmental variables we can potentially reduce the amount of people who become dangerous psychopaths.
Certain people with schizotypal personality disorder are usually described as odd or weird and usually have a low amount of good relationships. They typically don't understand how relationships are constructed. They also may misinterpret others' motivations, developing significant distrust of others. These problems may lead to severe anxiety, as the person with STPD responds inappropriately to social situations and holds odd beliefs. STPD is diagnosed in early adulthood and likely to continue, but symptoms might get better with age. Medications and therapy also may help. Someone who has great difficulty in establishing and maintaining close relationships with others characterizes Schizotypal personality disorder. A person with schizotypal personality
“Psychopath” and “sociopath”, words that are thrown around easily by people who don’t know what they mean and if they do, they misunderstand it. These two types of people have many similarities, such as being manipulative and unfeeling, but they are extremely different. Although the differences are barely noticeable, it’s important to know them so that you don’t mix up the two. Maybe even prevent yourself from being brutally murdered. Differences include how they interact or build relationships, how they think or feel in a certain situation, and how they even became the way they are.
According to (American Psychiatric Association 2016). A personality disorder is a way of thinking, feeling and behaving that deviates from the expectations of culture causes distress or problems functioning, and could last over a long period of time. There are 10 personality disorders and there are grouped in three categories called “clusters”. The first cluster is called Paranoid personality disorder- meaning a thought of distrust and suspiciousness where people who suffer from this disorder feel that people are trying to harm them in a negative way or even deceive them. The second is called Schizoid personality disorder- where the person who suffers from this disorder shows a pattern of detachment from social relationship and a lack of emotional expression. The third cluster is called Schizotypal personality disorder- shows acute discomfort in close relationships, distorted in thinking or in the perception of the individual who suffers from this disorder. Treatment of personality disorders in America can be done by Psychotherapy it can help a person understand their actions and
Paranoid personality disorder is the fear that something bad will happen or think that other people's causes are responsible. You may also have beliefs that are exaggerated. Paranoid personality disorder or PPD is when someone is living in the real world. Paranoid personality disorder is often mistake for Schizophrenic personality disorders. Schizophrenia is when a person has an image of a world thinks they are "living" in it. Paranoid personality disorder usually first comes in childhood or during teenage years. This often happens so early because of isolation from others, lack of friends or hypersensitivity. A person with a more worse case of paranoia usually lose touch with reality.People with this disease think they are being harmed by
The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10) includes 10 common forms of personality disorder there is a common connection between the personality traits of all. Every single person has their own ways of thinking, feeling, reacting, and relating to certain things. In the instance when one of those elements does not work correctly and is essentially dysfunctional warrant the diagnosis of personality disorder. There is a fine line between the diagnosis of personality disorder and a mental disorder, which makes it hard to diagnose at times.
Contrary to the movie industry’s portrayal of psychopaths, rarely do psychopaths come out in the open and kill their victims with chainsaws or wear disturbing masks. Nor do they act menacing or evil out in public. Rather, most psychopaths attempt to blend into society. A psychopath can be defined as one who uses superficial charm and manipulation to achieve his or her goals, even if it involves committing crimes. They can act quickly and feel neither remorse for committing the crime nor empathy for their unsuspecting victim. As much as they attempt to blend in, psychopaths are unable to fully function in society because they lack some qualities of a “normal” person. In the medical field, psychopathy is not recognized as a disorder. In fact, Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary defines psychopathy as an “obsolete term” (Venes and Taber 1372). In an effort to define psychopathy, multiple psychiatrists attempted to describe i...
Personality disorders: is a mental health condition. Within this condition a person has long-term of behaviors, thoughts and emotions. These actions are typically extremely different than they society’s expectation. These behaviors can cause serious problems at home, work even in relationships. They have trouble dealing with everyday stress and often have stormy relationships with other people. The cause(s) of personality disorders vary from person to person. These causes can go anywhere from abuse to the mother doing drugs while pregnant. The symptoms are different as well. They can be moderate or intolerable. The person with the disorder tends to not realize they are the one with the problem and often blame others for their actions. Treatments for this, is usually therapy and medications. This disorder usually becomes apparent in the early teens and early adulthood. And less obvious in the middle-aged. There are many types of personality disorders such as paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal, antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic, dependent, and obsessive- compulsive disorders. Treatment and severity vary by disorder.