None, as the two terms are synonymous for a specific type of personality disorder. According to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), the official term for a psychopath or sociopath is dissocial or antisocial personality. “Psychopathy is a very confusing term historically, and today it refers to just one of the eight existing personality disorders”, says forensic psychiatrist Daniel Martins de Barros, from Hospital das Clínicas, in São Paulo. That is, the association that we generally make of the term psychopath with a cold-hearted killer, such as a serial killer, is just a misuse of the term. See below which are the eight personality disorders – as some of the types of mental disorders are called – that can afflict someone.
According to experts, up to 3% of the world’s population is composed of psychopaths, and they relapse into crime three times more than common criminals.
DISTRACTED PERSONALITIES Meet the eight personality disorders described by medicine and fictional characters who would suffer from these disorders
ANTISOCIAL
Someone with a dissocial or antisocial personality type – the famous psychopath or sociopath – tends to be aggressive and repudiate social norms. In general, the guy doesn’t change his ways easily, even after being punished. Also, he does not tolerate frustration and tends to blame others for the things he does.
– Dexter, from the American TV series of the same name, is a vigilante police officer who, in addition to solving crimes through legal means, spends his free time killing criminals who have escaped the law
ANXIOUS
Imagine a very tense and insecure person, who seems to be always afraid of everything. This is the personality of the anxious person, guided by a feeling of apprehension, insecurity and inferiority. The person is supersensitive to criticism and will do anything to be accepted. Has difficulty relating intimately and avoids activities outside of their routine
– Scooby-Doo, the famous cartoon dog, is afraid of his own shadow and can’t even hear about ghosts, shivering just thinking about the hauntings. To make matters worse, he still thinks he’s a big coward.
PARANOID
You know that person who can’t stand to be contradicted, doesn’t forgive insults, is suspicious of everything and tends to distort facts, interpreting the actions of others, even if they are good or innocent, as hostile or contemptuous? This is typical paranoid. In general, he is also suspicious of his companions’ fidelity. But don’t confuse it with paranoia, which is a serious illness and not a type of personality disorder.
– In the work Dom Casmurro, by Machado de Assis, Bentinho is married to the sweet Capitu, but, after the death of his best friend, he is tormented by the idea that he had been gored by his wife and the deceased
DEPENDENT
The dependent type tends to let other people make any decisions for him. The guy is afraid of being abandoned and sees himself as a weak and incompetent person. In addition, he is submissive to the will of others and has difficulty dealing with changes or new challenges.
– In the cartoon Pinky and the Brain, Pinky is a child mouse, who lives submissive to Brain, a mouse scientist who comes up with far-fetched plans to dominate the world
HISTRIONIC
Also called hysterical or psychoinfantile, this type always wants to be the center of attention. Tends to be extremely dramatic, exhibitionist and demanding. To make matters worse, he is emotionally fickle, unstable, manipulative, selfish and quite superficial.
– The central character of the movie Gone with the Wind, Scarlet O’hara – played by actress Vivien Leigh, in 1939 -, is selfish, spoiled, wants to be the center of attention, and does everything to get what she wants
SCHIZOID
Someone with this disorder tends to be more withdrawn from others, having few social or emotional contacts. He prefers solitary activities and introspection. But, as with paranoia and the paranoid personality, the schizoid type has nothing to do with schizophrenia.
Spiteful and living in isolation, Gollum, from The Lord of the Rings, fits the diagnosis of schizoid exactly. His psychiatric analysis was even carried out by the Royal Medical University of London.
BORDERLINE
Acting unpredictably, having temper tantrums, and being unable to control their impulsive behavior are characteristics of people with this disorder. The borderline may also have self-image disturbances and a tendency to adopt self-destructive behavior.
– Heloísa, a character from the soap opera Mulheres Apaixonadas played by Giulia Gam, was insanely jealous of her husband, starring in several scenes of explicit lack of control
OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE
You probably know a guy like that, who always wants everything right, being a perfectionist to the extreme. This is typical anancastic or obsessive-compulsive. In general, he is obstinate in doing things the way he thinks they should be done, without any flexibility. These characteristics may be accompanied by repetitive impulses, but do not reach the severity of an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
– Lived by Marco Nanini, Lineu, the father of the series A Grande Família, is a politically correct, honest and very straight-forward health inspector. He likes everything in its place and woe betide those who break the routine
CONSULTORIA DANIEL MARTINS DE BARROS, FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIST AT THE INSTITUTE OF PSYCHIATRY AT HOSPITAL DAS CLINICS, IN SÃO PAULO; HILDA CLOTILDE PENTEADO MORANA, FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIST AND FOUNDER OF THE PERSONALITY DISORDER AMBULATORY OF THE INSTITUTE OF PSYCHIATRY AT HOSPITAL DAS CLINICS, IN SÃO PAULO; MIRIANE TOLEDO, PSYCHOLOGIST AND PSYCHOANALYST