Although neither term makes an appearance in psychology’s official guide to mental disorders, most people use the terms psychopath and sociopath far too casually, interchangeably, and inaccurately, and usually to describe someone they simply do not like.

The truth, however, is that both types fall under the official diagnosis of Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD).

As the label suggests, someone with ASPD doesn’t fit in with others – either individually or culturally. Individuals with ASPD are often disrespectful toward others, manipulative, impulsive, and destructive toward themselves and others. Unsurprisingly, they struggle in relationships, school, and jobs, and nearly half end up at the wrong end of the law.

It is believed that roughly 1% of women and 3% of men have ASPD.

Although mental healthcare professionals don’t use the terms sociopath or psychopath in their practices, in the popular vernacular, sociopaths are the ones usually linked to ASPD.

A psychopath, on the other hand, shows all of the hallmarks of ASPD but takes it to a whole new level (usually in the form of violence).

Looked at another way, if ASPD was a spectrum, on one end are a host of mental health disorders (borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, substance abuse disorder) and at the other sits the psychopath.

Signs of Trouble

So how does someone end up with an ASPD label? Usually, these individuals exhibit some or all of the following qualities:

• Physical aggression
• Reckless behavior
• Blaming others for their problems
• Breaking laws and rules
• Property destruction
• Manipulation, deception, and lying
• Absence of remorse

Although mental healthcare professionals will not officially diagnose ASPD until someone reaches adulthood, it is well known that early signs of ASPD are usually found in children of young teens.

If caught early, therapy can be successful in preventing ASPD from continuing into adulthood. Symptoms of ASPD are considered to be at their worst at roughly 24 years of age and start to decrease by ones late 40s.

Key Differences

It’s worth remembering that people with ASPD aren’t all skulking about growling and demeaning others. Many can be charming, funny, and seemingly warm.

Psychopaths, in particular, are often quite intelligent and can come from any socio-economic background, whereas sociopaths are apt to have lower IQs and come from humbler beginnings.

Someone with sociopathic tendencies can form relationships with others, experience earnest feelings of attachment, and be aware their behavior often lies outside cultural norms.

A psychopath, on the other hand, is generally unable to feel sympathy or empathy for another. Displays of emotion are a result of mimicry (to get what they want) rather than genuine displays of feeling.

Lastly, it is said that sociopaths are made that way through early life experiences while psychopaths are born that way. Studies show that people with sociopathic tendencies “are more the products of adverse environmental experiences” where someone with psychopathic tendencies appears to be wired that way from the start.