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Blog#2: How are psychopaths and sociopaths genetically similar/ different? 

How are psychopaths and sociopaths genetically similar/ different? 

Thinking About The Construct Of Psychopathy And The - Being Personal Clipart - Full Size Clipart (#3254946) - PinClipart

For this project,

As I’ve mentioned in the last post, people tend to use the terms sociopath and psychopath interchangeably, but they do have different meanings. A sociopath isn’t an official term to describe a person who has an antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Psychopathy describes a set of personality traits. However, ASPD and psychopathy can overlap. Sociopathy is just a label to define a set of traits that are more common in one group of people, and people who experience psychopathic traits, such as ruthlessness, charisma and impulsivity, tend to get through life just fine. Even full-blown psychopaths can be very successful, they just won’t ever be the same as everyone else. For my posts, I would be talking about Psychopath traits, characteristics and genetic influences, Sociopath traits, characteristics and genetic influences and how similar/ different they are, and how it affects others in our community. 

  1. Psychopath traits, characteristic and genetic influence
  2. Sociopath traits, characteristic and genetic influence

Clearly defining what a psychopath and a sociopath as well as how big of a role genetics plays a part in it can help us dive deeper into the mind of a psychopath and sociopaths, taking us to see the similar/ different they are. As well as look at if they were born a psychopath/ sociopath or were they made to be one.

3. Similarity and differences, and it’s impact on the community

Answering the my inquiry question, how similar/ different the two are. as well as how it positively/ negatively impact others in our community and the rest of the world.

Both psychopaths and sociopaths present risks to society, because they will often try and live a normal life while coping with their disorder. It’s important for us to understand that they are human too and not to judge them just because they have a mental illness. But psychopathy is likely the more dangerous disorder, because they experience a lot less guilt connected to their actions.
Here are 5 links i think would be useful for my research:
  1. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-019-0488-z#:~:text=Our%20results%20showed%20that%20expression,of%20psychopathy%20also%20in%20astrocytes.
  2. https://www.britannica.com/story/whats-the-difference-between-a-psychopath-and-a-sociopath-and-how-do-both-differ-from-narcissists
  3. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/behavioral-and-brain-sciences/article/abs/genes-hormones-and-gender-in-sociopathy/639EFD1CF98190F9B2CB8F0E249BA8BC
  4. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-sociopath-380184
  5. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00965036

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3 Comments

  1. Hi Ronnie, this is such an interesting topic choice! I agree with you that people tend to use the terms sociopath and psychopath interchangeably, and so I think it would be important to educate people on how they are different.

    Reading your blog, I think your 3 research steps are clear and will be very effective in answering your inquiry question. I am most looking forward to learning about the genetic influences about the two; to see if the traits are with the people since day one, or if they are developed throughout the years.

    Here are two websites that might help:
    1. https://www.mha-em.org/im-looking-for/mental-health-knowledge-base/conditions/127-psychopathy-vs-sociopathy
    2. https://psychcentral.com/health/differences-between-a-psychopath-vs-sociopath#myths

  2. Hi ronnie!

    I love how your inquiry project is about the difference between psychopaths and sociopaths as they are both very different mentally and physically. I am glad how you will be writing about each of their traits, characteristics, and their genetic influences. I am glad that I am getting to learn more about sociopaths and psychopaths of what they’re risks in society and how they try to live a normal life with their disorder that is very hard to cope with. I am hoping that I get to understand them more from your inquiry project.

    Estella

  3. Hi ronnie! Your topic is one that has always interested me too. The three questions really connect to your main point of focus, and you are indeed right, those with mental illnesses should not be judged because of what they have. I never knew the difference between a sociopath and a psychopath but your blog post has given me an idea of what they both mean. Best wishes on your research! Good luck!

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