Psychopathy and sociopathy are often used interchangeably but there are key differences. Psychopathy is considered biological in nature while sociopathy is caused by environmental factors like upbringing. Psychopaths tend to be well-educated and able to mask their disorder, while sociopaths are more erratic and impulsive. Ted Bundy is presented as a classic psychopath due to his controlled and calculated behavior, while Jack the Ripper is seen as a sociopath given his spontaneous and rash criminal acts. Understanding the distinctions is important for treatment and prevention.

1. Psychopathy V. Sociopathy
Distinguishing the
Differences
Kayla Robertson
W. Zimmerman
English 102-W10
2 December 2017

2. Psychopathy vs. Sociopathy- Isn’t that the same thing?
Apples to apples, oranges to oranges, it’s a common phrase of comparison. What about the differences? That would be
comparing apples to oranges. While it is widely believe that psychopathy and sociopathy are the apples to apples, this
severely is misguided. While most use the terms interchangeably, there are some notable differences. The characteristics
and traits of psychopathy and sociopathy can be one in the same, however, the most notable differences boils down to
nature vs. nurture; Psychopathy is- among numerous factors, biological, while Sociopathy is environmental.

3. Relevance to Society
According to child psychiatrist Jack Westman, it will cost society approximately $3 million over the course of a
sociopath’s lifetime to provide care and housing since the individuals are unstable and typically become
incarcerated (Lykken).
Psychopaths are 20 to 25 times more likely than non-psychopaths to be in prison, 4 to 8 times more likely to
violently recidivate compared to non-psychopaths, and are resistant to most forms of treatment. Given psychopathy
enormous impact on society in general and on the criminal justice system in particular, there are significant benefits
to increasing awareness of the condition (Kiehl and Hoffman).

4. Origin of Psychopathy
German systematists coined the term “psychopathic” in 1891 for a heterogeneous
collection of what is currently classified as personality disorders (Lykken).
Understanding psychopathy can be quite a difficult challenge. While media
portrays psychopaths as dangerous individuals capable of implacable evil,
research indicates that not all psychopaths are gruesome killers (Lykken).
According to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM),
Psychopathy is considered a personality disorder with the characteristics of
remorselessness, manipulation and grandiosity.

5. Growth in the medical field has been able to prove and
disprove many psychological theories. Neuroscience has
finally begun to open pandora’s box on psychopathy.
When comparing functional MRI (fMRI) scans of
psychopaths to non-psychopaths, the neurological traits that
all psychopaths exhibit are becoming relatively easier to
diagnose (Kiehl and Hoffman). The fMRI data shows a
robust and persistent pattern of abnormal brain function
such as, reduced neural activity in the prefrontal lobe, in
psychopaths (Kiehl and Hoffman).
Functional MRI scans

6. Profiling A Psychopathy
Psychopath is believed to be biological. Which could be
explained by the fMRI’s and how the scans compared to those
of non-psychopaths.
Psychopaths are often described as being:
● have an inflated sense of importance, are well-educated,
having controlled behavior
● Callous and manipulative, as they often lie, cheat, and
steal to get ahead
● display a lack of remorse/empathy; they don't
experience genuine emotions toward others

7. Ted Bundy was raised as the adopted son of his grandparents and was
told that his mother was his sister. His biological mother, Eleanor
moved with Ted to Tacoma, Washington, a few years later. In 1951,
she married Johnnie Bundy and the couple had several children
together. From all appearances, Bundy grew up in a content,
working-class family (Ted Bundy Biography).
Bundy was described as an attractive man. He was also smart and
was leading a future in politics, he was an intelligent man, but one
who was very insecure. He was also shy. In an evaluation done later,
it showed that he strongly depends on women and he feared getting
humiliated in his relationships with the opposite sex (Ted Bundy
Biography).
The Psychopath

8. Ted admitted to 36 killings across several states, but experts
believe it’s closer to 100. He said after raping and killing
women, he liked to spend the night with their corpses. He
would have sex with the bodies and often revisit them for
additional sexual assaults until they were too decomposed or
the animals got to them (Ted Bundy Biography).
Bundy kept the heads of 12 of his victims - he decapitated
them with a hacksaw, washed their hair, applied makeup to
them, and engaged in sexual acts with them. He would also
keep severed heads and random body parts (Ted Bundy
Biography). When asked why he kept such morbid tokens he
replied,

9. of the general adult male
population meet the criteria to
be considered a psychopath.
That is equivalent to 1,150,000
individuals in the United States
(Kiehl and Hoffman).
1%
Only
However...
4%
of the general population
display traits that
characterize them as a
sociopath (Stout).

10. Even though sociopathy is not a recognised
psychiatric condition, it is another form of the
antisocial personality disorder. (Stone).
In 1930 American psychiatrist Partridge
introduced the term sociopath. Sociopathy is
believed to be the environmental factor
(Lykken).

11. Profiling a
sociopath
The origin of this disorder is due to the environment and
upbringing. There is a significant association between
being raised without a father and developing this antisocial
personality disorder. Boys reared without fathers are 7
times more likely to become a criminal (Lykken).
Sociopaths understand right and wrong, they can empathize
with victims, but they disregard social rules and behavior
standards (Stone). Sociopaths are not born psychotic, they
are raised.

12. Sociopaths have a conscience and morals. They
understand what is right and wrong, but completely
disregard the social expectations (Stone). It is believed
that sociopaths may have progressed into respectable,
honest citizens if they had faced positive social
experiences during childhood (Stone).

13. Meet Jack
Known for committing gruesome murders from August 7 to
September 10 in 1888, "Jack the Ripper"—a moniker for the
notorious serial killer, who was never identified—remains one
of England's, and the world's, most infamous criminals (Jack
the Ripper Biography).

14. The series of killings that began in August 1888 stood out from
other violent crime of the time: They were marked by sadistic
butchery, suggesting a mind more sociopathic and hateful than
most citizens could comprehend. Jack the Ripper didn't just
snuff out life with a knife, he mutilated and humiliated women,
and his crimes seemed to portray an abhorrence for the entire
female gender (Jack the Ripper Biography).

15. Despite the fact that no-one was ever brought to justice or
charged with the crimes, there have, over the years, been more
than a hundred named suspects who may or may not have been
Jack the Ripper (Jack the Ripper Biography).
No matter how unlikely the names of those that appear on the
ever expanding list of suspects might be, the on going
challenge of "nailing" the ripper has helped keep this series of
crimes at the forefront of criminal and social history for over
125 years (Jack the Ripper Biography).

16. Psychopath v. Sociopath- Shared Traits
While understanding that both suffer from an Antisocial
Personality Disorder (APD), they share characteristics
such as:
● Deceitful and manipulative
● Complete disregard to rules and behavioral
standards
● No remorse or guilt
● Violent

17. Psychopath v. SOciopath- So...what’s the difference?
While psychopaths tend to be well-educated and able to hold
down a good career, Sociopaths are more likely to be
uneducated and unable to have a steady job.
Psychopath tend to have controlled behaviors and take
calculated risks. Sociopaths, however, are erratic, impulsive
and spontaneous.
Since sociopaths can empathize with victims, unlike
psychopaths, this strongly suggests brain differences in each
personality disorder.
DO YOUR RESEARCH

18. Conclusion
When comparing Ted Bundy to Jack the Ripper, the differences are quite drastic. Even though both committed gruesome murders, Bundy
was careful and took calculated risks. He was able to deceive others and kept many mementos of his work; rape and murder was a sport for
Bundy. Bundy was described as charming and attractive, this added to his allure and enabled him to draw more women in (Ted Bundy
Biography). While Jack the Ripper’s identity was and is still unknown, his criminal behavior displayed erratic, and impulsive behavior.
Oftentimes leaving the women gutted in plain sight. His crimes were considered rash and unplanned (Jack the Ripper Biography). Jack the
Ripper would be considered a textbook sociopath while Ted Bundy would be considered a classic psychopath.
While most would use the terms Psychopath and Sociopath as one in the same, there must be definite distinctinction. Classifying individuals
with either antisocial personality disorder is not only damning but it is extremely imperative to understand the differences for treatment
purposes. It is strongly evident that sociopathy is a result of a child’s environment/upbringing, psychopathy is a result of neurological and
biological factor. Understanding this will help develop successful treatment options for individuals diagnosed with either disorder.

19. Works cited
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders : DSM-5. Arlington, VA :American Psychiatric Publishing, 2013. Print.
Jack the Ripper Biography
Kiehl, Kent A., and Morris B. Hoffman. “THE CRIMINAL PSYCHOPATH: HISTORY,
NEUROSCIENCE, TREATMENT, AND ECONOMICS.” Jurimetrics51 (2011): 355–397. Print.
Lykken, D.T. Society (1996) 34: 29. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02696999
Pemment, J., Psychopathy versus sociopathy: Why the distinction has become crucial,
Aggression and Violent Behavior (2013), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2013.07.001
Stone, Maryann, "Predicting Behavior from Psychopathic and Antisocial Personality Traits in a
Student Sample." (2008). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1940. http://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1940
Stout, Martha. The Sociopath Next Door. Broadway, 2006.
Ted Bundy Biography