not all hpd's are sociopath's but i tend to believe that the hpd's who wilfully manipulate and conquer innocent victim after innocent victim are displaying sociopathic tendencies. i found a study that explains the correlation. it's very complicated so i posted parts of it here. if you want to read the entire article click on the link: note: it was a study done on female offenders. i am not implying that all hpd's are offenders. the woman i know with hpd has never committed a criminal offence, that i know of.
http://ijo.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/49/5/530.pdf#search=%22female%20psychopath%20hysterical%22
Although the knowledge base is growing considerably less is known about female psychopaths. Empirical findings with men have supported psychodynamics characterized by grandiosity and a detached (narcissistic) interpersonal style. Gacono and Meloy’s (1994) clinical and research work with female psychopaths, however, suggested that hysteria, rather than narcissism, was the corresponding characterological style.
Millon’s conceptualization of histrionic personality disorder (HPD; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) helps our understanding of the hysteric’s motivations. The reliance of a person with HPD on others lay in the active solicitation of the support of those around him or her to satisfy the pronounced need for affiliation and attention (active or dependent style. Studies of other patient groups help us understand the hysteric’s psychodynamics. Finding that inpatient women with HPD experienced less severe symptoms of depression than other patients, Lazare and Klerman (1968) hypothesized that their hysterical character protected or defended them against a more severe, consciously experienced depression and a negative self-concept.
Other investigators (Pfohl, 1991; Shapiro, 1965) have made similar observations. Unlike the effectiveness of the male psychopaths’ so called narcissism in warding off dysphoria, we expect hysterical psychodynamics to serve as an ineffective moderator for depression and dysphoria.
The male psychopaths’ successful narcissism emerges in Rorschach findings characterized by increased self focus, elevated reflections and personals, less interest in others and human interactions, low human movement, low human content, less attachment capacity and anxiety and sense of self-damage. It is suggested that a histrionic rather than narcissistic (males) personality style is characteristic of female psychopathy.
Therefore, the histrionic character structure in female psychopaths would dictate elevated egocentricity (not based on reflections) as a result of increased self-focus in the absence of grandiosity, superficial interest in others, a self-experience as “damaged” and severe problems grasping the motivations of others human experience variable.
Rather than remorse or guilt, the self-critical, unhappy, and dissatisfied presentation of the female psychopath may be viewed as an insidious negative self-image arising from long-standing frustration over unmet needs for attention and admiration. Rather, the female psychopath struggles with a hysterical need for attention and admiration from others (Millon & Davis, 1996) to mediate the effects of chronic dissatisfaction and self-criticism. Compared to the independent detached interpersonal style noted in male psychopaths, the female’s increased superficial need for attention renders her more dependent on the views and opinions (approval) of others, resulting in a chronic, negative sense of self.
Despite her heightened interest in others, the female psychopath exhibits a reduced capacity for interpersonal relatedness. Our findings support the superficial, shallow, and insincere character of these women, while predicting the female psychopath’s preference for more frequent, superficial interpersonal contacts. The female psychopath’s interest in others is not based on a desire for greater intimacy but, rather, is motivated by a need to be the center of attention. Self-focus is sought in the interests of providing a distraction from ruminative self-criticism, a sense of insecurity, a negative sense of self, and the experience of dysphoric affect. Thus, an examiner should not confuse this increased need for so-called connection with empathy or caring but, instead, should interpret it as an attempt to satisfy her endless needs for attention. In addition, the female psychopath’s diminished capacity for introspection further reduces her ability to establish and maintain.
Millon&Davis (1996) characterized HPD as an amalgam of active-dependent characteristics and sensation-seeking behavior. The histrionic personality was distinguished from the dependent personality by the manner in which the histrionic person actively solicits attention and admiration through seductive, entertaining, and manipulative behaviors. Although both styles exhibit dependency, the histrionic presentation is characterized by a gregarious, extroverted attempt to garner the attention and support of the intended person or group rather than by
more indirect means typically employed by individuals with DPD (dependent personality disorder; American Psychiatric Association, 1994).
The male and female expressions of psychopathy differ from one another in two separate but related dimensions: interpersonal relatedness and self perception.
The female psychopath’s pronounced needs for relatedness and adulation from others form the cornerstone of her histrionic character. Her interpersonal connections are focused on attempts to overcome her negative self-concept and dysphoric feelings that have arisen from her perceived alienation from those around her. The very dysphoria and feelings of anger and irritation she seeks to escape have their roots in unmet needs for affiliation and desire to be entertained by others. The female psychopath lacks the grandiose self-structure and detachment noted in male psychopaths; and although she may lack the male psychopath’s desire for domination and humiliation of others, she displays a corresponding incapacity for empathy and perspective taking.
Female psychopaths also exhibit similar problems empathizing with others when compared to (male psychopathy), they display a clear disregard for the welfare of others despite an outward appearance of interrelatedness.