Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

Mike 03

(16,616 posts)

17. As others have explained, psychopath and sociopath are synonymous,

Reply to unblock (Original post)

Thu Apr 23, 2020, 03:49 PM

Apr 2020

although in some professions (forensic psychiatry), terms are sometimes used to emphasize the severity of behaviors (i.e., Ted Bundy is often described as a psychopath, whereas a white collar criminal a sociopath).

A question I wonder about: Is it possible to be both psychotic and a psychopath? Some psychiatrists who have studied Trump say it is possible, it depends on whether or not he believes his lies.

In that case we would be talking about a psychopath who is completely disconnected from reality.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

18 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

3+ years into the trump presidency, a question occurred to me that i never thought about before: [View all] unblock Apr 2020 OP

Yep. Trump is all seven deadly sins wrapped into one. sarcasmo Apr 2020 #1

A psychopath is inherently a sociopath. Cattledog Apr 2020 #2

Someone posted a research treatise here on DU that said something like what you wrote. Blue_true Apr 2020 #6

"No clinical difference between a sociopath and a psychopath. sop Apr 2020 #3

+1 Mike 03 Apr 2020 #16

Currently, the DSM 5 groups the two together. Laelth Apr 2020 #4

Trump seems to have a big case of all four cluster B characteristics. nt Blue_true Apr 2020 #7

Yep. He's an advanced, textbook case. Laelth Apr 2020 #9

The only one I would question is "Borderline Personality Disorder". 11 Bravo Apr 2020 #18

Someone posted a scientific study that says that the worst villains Blue_true Apr 2020 #5

Well, one could say that Trump is getting into serial killer territory LastDemocratInSC Apr 2020 #11

+1 uponit7771 Apr 2020 #15

Yes. ...nt 2naSalit Apr 2020 #8

From what I have seen they share traits. Caliman73 Apr 2020 #10

Your final sentence states the truth about him. LastDemocratInSC Apr 2020 #12

All I know is he is a fucking nut. pwb Apr 2020 #13

tRUMP should be treated with The Three S's: Sedation, Sequestration and Silence! abqtommy Apr 2020 #14

As others have explained, psychopath and sociopath are synonymous, Mike 03 Apr 2020 #17