Distinguishing Psychopathy from Sociopathy and Antisocial Personality Disorder

Psychopathy, sociopathy, and antisocial personality disorder are terms often used interchangeably but have distinct differences. While only antisocial personality disorder is an official diagnosis, psychopathic personality, prevalent in literature, refers to individuals with a lack of emotional attachment to others, known for concealing their disturbance behind a 'mask of sanity.' Not all psychopaths are violent; instead, psychopathy influences how violent acts are carried out, particularly when combined with a fusion of sex and aggression, enabling meticulous planning to evade law enforcement and potentially harm many victims. Therefore, psychopathy does not cause individuals to commit violent acts but affects the modus operandi of these actions.