Greetings in the name of God,
I'm a proud psychopath; hence, I'm exceedingly capable of conveying our thought processes to the masses. That being said, Psychology and Psychiatry are mistaken in their definitions of the term. A psychopath does not lack empathy; rather, he or she lacks sympathy. This is a major error. The scientists who have studied my brain have dubbed me an Empathetic Psychopath, a scientific anomaly. I feel the emotions (pain, joy, love, sorrow, etc.) of others, and I have been trained in meditation and religion (rules) since birth. These enable me to control or subdue my beast until needed. Consequently, there is no 'one size fits all' when it comes to the minds of psychopaths.
There are demonic and divine psychopaths, educated geniuses and uneducated psychopaths, thin and muscular psychopaths, male and female psychopaths, and so on. The primary difference between a 'sociopath' and a 'psychopath' is that the psychopath possesses an insatiable need or desire to exterminate the living.
Very few terminologies within the field of psychology elicit as much confusion as the term 'psychopath'. Although it is commonly (albeit erroneously) used to refer to an individual with a mental health condition, 'psychopath' is not recognized as an official diagnosis. Instead, it is an informal expression frequently employed to describe a condition known as antisocial personality disorder (ASPD).
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) does not include psychopathy as a recognized clinical diagnosis.
According to Dr. Prakash Masand, a psychiatrist and co-founder of the Centers of Psychiatric Excellence, the true definition of a psychopath in the realm of psychiatry pertains to a person with ASPD. This condition involves the presence of manipulative tendencies and a propensity to violate the rights of others.
To receive a proper diagnosis, individuals must undergo a comprehensive mental health evaluation conducted by a qualified mental health professional. During this assessment, the professional will analyze various aspects of the individual's mental state, including their thoughts, emotions, behavioral patterns, and relationships. Symptoms will be scrutinized and compared against the criteria for ASPD outlined in the DSM-5.
For an ASPD diagnosis to be given, a person must exhibit a recurring pattern of disrespect for and infringement upon the rights of others. The DSM-5 outlines three or more criteria that indicate this, including failure to adhere to social norms regarding lawful behavior.
Furthermore, the mental health professional will take the individual's medical history into account. This comprehensive evaluation is of utmost importance as individuals with ASPD often have other co-occurring mental health disorders and substance use disorders.
The terms 'psychopath' and 'sociopath' are frequently interchanged to informally describe individuals with ASPD. However, since 'sociopath' is not an officially recognized diagnosis either, it generally falls under the same diagnostic category as psychopathy within ASPD. From a clinical standpoint, there is no distinction between these two terms.
Both psychopathy and sociopathy are alternative means of referring to ASPD. The behaviors typically associated with both terms commonly align with the criteria set forth for ASPD.
In closing, nothing could be further from the truth. The need to murder (animal or human) is what separates sociopaths (who are reckless, impulsive, and only murder if forced to do so) from psychopaths (who are disciplined, calculated, and murder for the joy of doing so). Therefore, if an individual is simply antisocial, that individual does not meet the criteria of being an antisocial and murderous psychopath.
Thanks for reading,
(C) 2023 - Prof. Robert Stewart Ph.D
The 👇 actual view count that they hide.
