question please?

[Irishgirl]

is antisocial personality the same as sociopathic personality?

[Me]

I think sociopathic behavior can be a BY-PRODUCT of antisocial behaviour but not necessarily the same thing.

realurine@yahoo.com is where I can be reached because I don't think I'll remember this site after I X out, for replies back. If you're put off by the email account, then you're an idiot.

Thank you.

-Me-

[needless_havok]

i was wondering the very same thing. if antisocial personality isn't the same as, it's definatly close to being. this is me making a decision based upon what i've read and been told. i'm posting here because i've been diagnosed with APD before, and i just took a personality test and it said i had APD...

[fomori4hire]

is antisocial personality the same as sociopathic personality?

Yes and no, but to my understanding it's actually no. They are both lumped together, although the person who "wrote the book" on sociopathy, makes statements about it, which counter diagnostic criteria for antisocial personality disorder.

Literature on sociopathy directly indicates a lack of emotional depth as part of the disorder, and while it is implied with antisocial personality disorder, it's not in the diagnostic criteria, and is not a requirement.

Also, literature on sociopathy indicates a person can contract sociopathy later in life, while one of the criteria for antisocial personality disorder is that this behavior was also present during childhood, in the form of "conduct disorder".

I fit the criteria for antisocial personality disorder, but I do not feel I fit the criteria for a sociopath.

I have not been diagnosed with either, so I will not state that I have either disorder.

It is my opinion that both disorders overlap a lot, but not perfectly.

It should be noted that technically sociopathy is not present in the DSM, although a reference to it is in the entry for Antisocial Personality Disorder.

[Irishgirl]

That makes perfect sense, thank you very much.

[needless_havok]

Also, literature on sociopathy indicates a person can contract sociopathy later in life, while one of the criteria for antisocial personality disorder is that this behavior was also present during childhood, in the form of "conduct disorder".

so conduct disorder becomes APD when you turn 18, or what? i don't know about anybody else, but i don't remember any sudden changes on my 18th birthday. in fact i felt exactly the same as the day before. i don't get why the name of the disorder changes when you're 18. there are so many times when being 18 or older is part of the criteria in many disorders/diseases. how can this be, when everyone matures differently?

[Irishgirl]

That is not how I took the response.

The way I defined it is that people with antisocial behaviour usually show signs not only as teenagers, but even earlier. I agree, almost all teenagers display some sorts of anti social behaviour. Rebellion comes with the teen years.

With sociopaths however, as I read the explanation, there is less likely or unlikely for antisocial behaviour in general, they simply lack remorse or empathy and feel entitled. They might seem like 'perfect' people all of their lives, but feel entitles to cheat, lie or even kill if it suits their immediate needs. Scott Peterson one good example.

[needless_havok]

scott peterson? he was convicted based on circumstantial evidence, wasn't he?

[Irishgirl]

apparently the jury felt the evidence was strong enough to convict him to death. He is a sociopath, Gosh look at him. Now it has come out he was hitting on a young woman the same day his wife and infants body washed ashore. He is a monster, like all sociopaths. He feels entitled, and no one but himself matters.

Circumstantial? I think it was a very strong case, and I am glad they convicted him. He is damned to hell.

[needless_havok]

*laughs*