Despite scientific advancements in this area, many professionals, including some forensic psychologists, psychiatrists, and criminologists still use the terms psychopathy and sociopathy interchangeably. However, while psychopaths and sociopaths do have many characteristics in common, they also have unique behavioral characteristics that help define them.
Psychopaths are generally unable to form emotional attachments or feel real empathy for others, although they sometimes have disarming or even charming personalities. Psychopaths are extremely manipulative and can easily gain people’s trust. They learn to mimic emotions despite their inability to actually feel them and typically appear “normal” to unsuspecting people. Psychopaths are often well-educated and hold steady jobs. Some are so good at manipulation and mimicry that they maintain families and other long-term relationships without those around them ever suspecting their true nature. When committing crimes, psychopaths carefully plan out every detail in advance and often have contingency plans in place. Unlike their sociopathic counterparts, psychopathic criminals are cool, calm, and meticulous. Their crimes, whether violent or not, will be highly organized and they generally offer few clues for authorities to pursue. Intelligent psychopaths make excellent white-collar criminals and con artists due to their calm, charismatic natures.
In contrast, sociopaths, also known as antisocial personalities, tend to be nervous and easily agitated. They are volatile and prone to emotional outbursts, including fits of rage. They are likely to be uneducated and live on the fringes of society, unable to hold down a steady job or stay in one place for long. It is also difficult, although not impossible, for sociopaths to form attachments with others. Although some sociopaths are able to form attachments to particular individuals or groups, they typically have little regard for society in general and tend to ignore societal rules. In the eyes of others, sociopaths will appear to be quite disturbed. Any crimes committed by a sociopath, inclusive of murder, will tend to be haphazard, disorganized, and spontaneous rather than planned.
Consider the similarities and differences between psychopaths and sociopaths.
Based on the first initial of your last name, you will be assigned a pair of criminals on which to focus for this Assignment.
Angelo Buono
Charles Cullen
three or more credible sources of information/evidence (e.g., court documents, documentaries, journal articles, news reports, etc.) about each of the offenders to which you were assigned.
Consider the specific influences and motivations of each offender.
Decide whether you think each offender is a psychopath or a sociopath and prepare to explain your rationale.
Use the APA Course Paper Template (APA 7) found in this week’s Learning Resources to complete your Assignment.
Assignment (3–4 pages, not including title and references pages)
Address the following in your paper:
Explain in your own words the differences and similarities between psychopaths and sociopaths.
Focusing on their specific influences and motivations, explain whether each offender in your pair is a psychopath or a sociopath, and why. Provide the rationale for your choice and back it up with credible evidence.
Note: Use this week’s Learning Resources, as well as the three or more credible sources of information/evidence you identified to support your Assignment. Use proper APA format and style for all references and citations.