Narcissist vs. Psychopath
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Reference Education -> subcategory Psychology.
Narcissist vs. Psychopath
Understanding Narcissists and Psychopaths
The terms "psychopath" and "sociopath" often come up in conversation, both historically used to describe someone with Antisocial Personality Disorder (AsPD). Despite their interchangeability, distinguishing narcissists from psychopaths can be challenging. Some experts even suggest that the differences might be minor, leading to a potential merge of these distinctions in future diagnostic criteria.
However, notable differences do exist:
Key Differences:
1. Impulse Control:
- Narcissists often exhibit more self-control compared to psychopaths, who struggle with impulsivity and seek immediate gratification. Psychopaths use rage as a tool to manipulate and dominate others.
2. Empathy and Sadism:
- Both groups lack empathy. However, many psychopaths display sadistic traits, finding pleasure in causing pain or deceiving others, often seeing it as humorous.
3. Relationships:
- While narcissists can form dysfunctional relationships, psychopaths typically fail to establish meaningful connections at all.
4. Social Disregard and Criminality:
- Both narcissists and psychopaths disregard societal norms, but psychopaths take this to an extreme. They are often methodical, ruthless, and engage in criminal behavior. Psychopaths act with malicious intent, whereas narcissists offend more through negligence and self-centeredness.
Insights from "Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited"
Contrary to some beliefs, narcissists aren't inherently evil since they lack the conscious desire to cause harm. As Theodore Millon notes, certain narcissists even incorporate moral values into their inflated self-view, regarding moral failings in others with disdain. Their abusive behavior is often thoughtless and unintentional, whereas psychopaths are deliberate in their actions.
Dependency on Others:
- Narcissists crave outside validation and admiration, referred to as narcissistic supply.
- Psychopaths, in contrast, are self-sufficient and do not depend on others for emotional support.
Millon and Davis's Perspective:
When the self-centeredness and lack of empathy of narcissists combine with the impulsivity and deceitfulness of antisocial behavior, it results in a psychopath?"someone who relentlessly pursues selfish desires without empathy or remorse.
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