alexia elliott wrote:
> could anyone give me thier defintions of antisocial
> personality or pyschopathic personality what difference is
> between the two types.......... thankyou alexia elliott
In my Criminal Justice Psychology classes, I tend to define the
difference between the antisocial personality and the psychopathic
personality as one of behavior and perspective, rather than as different
subjects. An individual who manifests an antisocial personality disorder
has, by definition, violated the laws, taboos, and/or mores of his/her
society--i.e.., the "sociopath." The person who demonstrates a
psychopathic personality, on the other hand, may have the same
neuro-psychological and cognitive differences from the rest of society
(i.e., high stimulus needs, lack of affect, thrill seeking behaviors,
above average intelligence, etc.) but may never have violated--or even
wished to violate--social norms.
In our society, those meeting the definitions of a "psychopath,"
but not the clinical criteria for antisocial personality disorder
undoubtedly outnumber those who _do_ meet the APD criteria by quite a
bit. Some studies have indicated that a fairly substantial number of
individuals working in high risk or high stress positions meet the
criteria for the psychopath (i.e., Law Enforcement Officers, Pediatric
Oncologists, Fire Fighters, Politicians [but, of course, they usually
meet the criteria for APD as well ;-], etc.), which--given the stimulus
needs coupled with lack of affect--makes a lot of sense.
Of course, my areas of expertise are in the CRJ Psychology and
Sociology/Criminology areas, not in clinical psychology, my definitions
may vary considerably from those of a clinician.
Rick
--
Rick Adams
Department of Social Sciences
Jackson Community College
Jackson, MI
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"... and the only measure of your worth and your deeds will be the love
you leave behind when you're gone. --Fred Small, Everything Possible "
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