The term sociopath refers to an individual who exhibits behaviors that are outside of society’s norms and expectations. Sociopaths, as well as psychopaths, fall under the psychiatric umbrella diagnosis of persons with “antisocial personality disorder,” although many in the mental health profession feel that sociopaths and psychopaths are distinct personalities and should not be grouped under the same diagnostic category. The two primary organizations responsible for diagnosing mental health problems—the American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization—define sociopaths differently, which illustrates the complexity and difficulty that diagnosticians have with this personality type.
The American Psychiatric Association refers to sociopaths as persons having a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, occurring since the age of 15, and who possess three or more of the following criteria: (1) failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest; (2) deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure; (3) impulsivity or failure to plan ahead; (4) irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults; (5) reckless disregard for safety of self or others; (6) consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain steady work or honor financial obligations; and (7) lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another.
The World Health Organization’s most recent version of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, or ICD-10, refers to sociopaths as having “dissocial personality disorder,” which is characterized by (1) disregard for social obligations, (2) callous unconcern for the feelings of others, (3) gross disparity between behavior and the prevailing social norms, (4) behavior that is not readily modifiable by adverse experience, including punishment, (5) low tolerance to frustration and low threshold for discharge of aggression, including violence, and (6) tendency to blame others or offer rationalizations for behavior.
This disorder is diagnosed much more frequently in males than in females and is often associated with criminality and alcohol and drug use. And while sociopaths may be difficult to diagnose, many exhibit three warning signs, known as the MacDonald Triad: bedwetting, pyromania, and cruelty to animals. However, critics note that these behaviors are only a repetitive finding in sociopaths and that some children who exhibit them grow up to be healthy, normal adults. Because there is a limited amount of insight into the symptoms for sociopathy, persons rarely seek treatment for it, and when they do, their treatment options are limited.
Bibliography:
- Beneveniste, Debra H. 1996. Diagnosis and Treatment of Sociopaths and Clients with Sociopathic Traits. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
- Moffitt, Terrie E. 1993. “Adolescent-Limited and Life-Course Persistent Antisocial Behavior: A Developmental Taxonomy.” Psychological Review 100:674-701.
- Stoff, David M., James Breiling, and Jack D. Maser, eds. 1997. Handbook of Antisocial Behavior. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
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