A sociopath or a psychopath?
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Strazdamonas — 10 years ago(February 14, 2016 10:08 PM)
No, they do not. While they are both a Antisocial personality disorder, but they have differences.
Its not easy to spot a psychopath. They can be intelligent, charming, and good at mimicking emotions. They may pretend to be interested in you, but in reality, they probably dont care.
Theyre skilled actors whose sole mission is to manipulate people for personal gain, Tompkins says.
Sociopaths are less able to play along. They make it plain that theyre not interested in anyone but themselves. They often blame others and have excuses for their behavior.
Some experts see sociopaths as hot-headed. They act without thinking how others will be affected.
Psychopaths are more cold-hearted and calculating. They carefully plot their moves, and use aggression in a planned-out way to get what they want. If theyre after more money or status in the office, for example, theyll make a plan to take out any barriers that stand in the way, even if its another persons job or reputation.
The main character of this movie was most definitely a Psychopath.
Applied Science? All science is applied. Eventually. -
danavenell — 9 years ago(September 19, 2016 05:15 PM)
Some experts say they are the same thing. Others say there are differences. And a few are skeptical of whether psychopathy or sociopathy are real things.
Personally I think they are basically interchangeable terms, with individuals having different behaviours that will still make them score highly on the Hare test (which I score quite highly on myself btw - but not enough that I have no empathy, luckily - although how do I really know how much empathy other people genuinely have?) -
BenignPillows — 11 years ago(March 28, 2015 05:22 PM)
Yeah I'm saying psychopath as well. It is not completely identical with antisocial personality disorder. Mostly it is seen as a subgroup (like, the worst of the antisocial PF's), but it is not an official diagnosis.
One alternative might be Asperger's syndrome (autism spectrum disorder). I mean, his language - the way he almost constantly
lectures
. Even running away, he talks away like a professor to Rick, and he almost never shows emotions, he's completely business like with everybody. Also, like Rick says, he doesn't understand people. People with Asperger's syndrome can often have problems with empathy as well. Plus, he has VERY restricted interests
He is just too cunning and glib, though. Hearing him talk to people, you think they're going to chuck him right out (like how he treated Nina!) - but they don't. Not all of them, anyway. He actually achieves his goals. Maybe he does understand people then, like how to manipulate them. (He just doesn't like them..)
Yeah, so I'm gonna go with psychopath. -
TastemasterAweemaway — 11 years ago(March 31, 2015 11:09 AM)
You make a great point about Asperger's the professor-like lectures and the apparent inability to identify others' emotions are Asperger's hallmarks.
In fact, I would diagnose Asperger's as an underlying condition. I just think Antisocial Personality Disorder is more significant in Lou's case, given he murders and whatnot.
BTW, I'm no expert just a psychology buff. -
TastemasterAweemaway — 11 years ago(March 31, 2015 12:12 PM)
This thread helped me realize that Lou's apparent combination of Asperger's and Antisocial Personality Disorder is what I don't like about the movie. I just don't think those two are a realistic match. Then I found this (which certainly appeals to my confirmation bias):
While it is possible to be both an Asperger and a psychopath, it's highly unlikely, because Aspergers lack one major component needed for psycho/sociopathy, Cognitive Empathy.
There are 3 types of empathy:
(A) Cognitive Empathy - understanding the thoughts, motivations ect. of others'.
(B) Affective Empathy - sharing the love, pain, grief etc. of others'..what laymen call empathy.
(C) Empathic (or Empathetic) Concern - what laymen call sympathy.
Psycho/sociopaths have very strong Cognitive Empathy, without which they would not be able to manipulate their victims (one of their primary characteristics), but they have an almost complete lack of the other two. Aspergers are virtual polar opposites, being deficient in (A) but having little or no issue with (B) or (C). NB: Aspergers may display (B) and (C) differently due to a comorbid condition called Primary Alexithymia, but these emotions are still there.
Because most people do not know of or understand the dichotomy of empathy into these 3 very different forms, they draw parallels which just aren't there. A Psycho/Sociopath without Cognitive Empathy would be like a Jumbo Jet without wingssomething completely different entirely. Conversely, an Asperger with strong Cognitive Empathy would never receive an Asperger's diagnosis in the first place because they would simply not suffer the social deficits required for an Asperger's diagnosis. A very small percentage of Aspergers may be violent, but that still doesn't make them a psycho/sociopath. Even if an Asperger were to become a psycho/sociopath, it's unlikely they'd still meet the criteria to be called an Asperger, which would call into question them ever having truly been an Asperger in the first place.
source: https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120206210304AASIdw2 -
jonathonwisnoski-856-217430 — 10 years ago(May 08, 2015 07:01 PM)
This really seems like an argument that is caught up in misconceptions.
People do not actually fall into categories like that. Medicine creates categories to try and add a little order to the chaos. These is nothing preventing a psychopath from not being very good at CE, for them it is just a learned skill they develop to survive, some will be better at it than others. Perhaps, it would differentiate him enough for him not be be labeled as a psychopath, but non empathy for hurting others does not rely on being an expert manipulator. -
nolanfan — 10 years ago(July 03, 2015 06:13 AM)
"People do not actually fall into categories like that. Medicine creates categories to try and add a little order to the chaos. "
That is an amazing statement with great insight. Are you in mental health? If not, you could have a bright career. It takes most years to come to the same conclusion. You can't cure the chaos, but stabilize. Again, bravo!!! This person wins the argument -
goo-goo-ga-ga — 10 years ago(April 13, 2015 11:02 PM)
Aspberger's and anti-social personality disorder are two very different things. It's an unfortunate misconception that people on the autism spectrum lack empathy. They don't. Their feelings are as profound as the average person's. They simply find social expression more challenging.
It's possible he has both. Psychopathy is a personality disorder while Aspberger's is a developmental disability. -
Lady_Elaine_Fairchild — 10 years ago(December 13, 2015 07:03 PM)
Hearing him talk to people, you think they're going to chuck him right out (like how he treated Nina!) - but they don't.
You are right in your last sentence IMO He does understand people-to a fault. He immediately sizes up their strengths and weaknesses and uses them to his advantage. Emotions just get in the way of that.
Is not right or wrong He was born that way.
As a renaissance chick, I paint, write, and sing loudly off-key. -
BenignPillows — 10 years ago(December 14, 2015 02:07 PM)
You are right in your last sentence IMO He does understand people-to a fault. He immediately sizes up their strengths and weaknesses and uses them to his advantage. Emotions just get in the way of that.
Yeah, that's why I went with psychopath instead of Asperger's.
I guess this is why they usually say (intelligent) psychopaths shouldn't be allowed into therapy - all they do is learn new ways to manipulate people.
"The best fairytale is one where you believe the people" -Irvin Kershner -
Silent_Bob01 — 10 years ago(April 06, 2015 08:23 AM)
Ugh. Don't go throwing around terms without understanding their meaning.
Schizophrenia is completely different from psychopathy. Schizophrenics are mentally ill and need to be treated with medication. Psychopaths are NOT mentally illthey're simply very dangerous personality types. -
Boni-The-Sock — 10 years ago(April 05, 2015 10:48 PM)
Some understand that the main difference between psychos and socios is that psychos can't control their urge to kill. Socios, on the other hand, don't feel this urge to kill, they just despise other human beings, and dislike most of human interactions. They do whatever it takes to survive, even if it means to kill (which doesn't mean they enjoy it).
In other words, psychos are sick people without conscience who lack guilt or/and empathy. Socios are antisocial criminals capable of anything.
English is not my primary language, but at least I speak more than you. -
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Silent_Bob01 — 10 years ago(April 07, 2015 08:53 PM)
Why? Because it was a fascinating movie and Gyllenhaal's performance was brilliant and layered. He used a facade of a dorky, awkward individual to mask the fact that he was a pure psychopath (and yes, a scumbag).
I think that's worth exploring. It's not like this was some mindless action film like The Expendables. Not that I don't enjoy mindless action, but there's nothing to analyze there, UNLIKE with a film like Nightcrawler.
