In seems in the last few years popular use of the term “sociopath” has ramped up considerably and it seems this psychological dysfunction label is being slapped on almost anyone we don’t like form Wall Street bankers to just about anyone you think is an asshole.
You see these lists all the time these days
11 Signs You May Be Dating A Sociopath
How To Survive a Sociopath Boss
What is driving this popularity?
I think sociopaths have been getting a lot more exposure in the media lately. The funny thing is, it seems to be largely positive exposure - being a sociopath is becoming a popular trait to have in an antihero (the first person who comes to mind in Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock). Quite often in TV and literature, sociopaths are seen as attractive geniuses who do all the things we wish we were daring enough to try.
It’s interesting how different the connotations are for “psychopath” and “sociopath.” Psychopaths are still seen as unstable, violent, and dangerous, while sociopaths are more . . . refined. Cool, calm, collected, intelligent, and not nearly as deranged - despite the fact that, in reality, the two disorders are very closely related.
What’s more, the traits of sociopaths are things we often see in people we don’t like or who intimidate us, leading to misdiagnosis. That boss who treats his employees like dirt may not be the most sympathetic guy, sure, but that doesn’t make him a sociopath.
Because sociopaths are awesome.
(which is to say: words like sociopath and awesome get overused and sapped of their original power as they become commonplace).
I haven’t noticed it, but how many of these references or articles have you noticed since Dexter started in 2004. If I had to guess, I’d guess that Dexter is what brought the term the most attention, at least in the last few years.
People like to be able to attach labels to other people. This seems to apply to psychological disorders as much as anything else.
“Sociopath” is mostly going to be used to describe people who have, in the accuser’s opinion, acted poorly towards others. It simultaneously offers an explanation for the perceived poor treatment of others, insults the target and pre-emptively discredits their future actions.
It’s also an ‘easy’ one, like bi-polar. “My boss is so mean, he’s such a sociopath.” “She’s so moody, she’s totally bi-polar”. I’d guess about half the people that say it actually mean it (or think they do) and the other half are just saying it to say it, more of an insult than anything else.
I’ve read a number of sources that says narcissism is on the rise, which is one of the signs of a sociopathic personality.
The Sociopath Next Door was published in 2006 and it put forward the theory that 1 in 25 people are sociopaths. I’ve seen that statistic cited a lot, so I think the book had a big effect on people’s perceptions of the sociopaths around them.
A huge amount of medical and psychological terminology gets absorbed into the mainstream and bastardised. It is not clear to me whether it is the same process on-going but down the years I’ve seen terms come into popular parlance and applied to people they should never be. It is marginally more sophisticated and less dehumanising that calling someone a “crazy bitch”.
When I found the use of the word in “The Kite Runner”, I went and looked it up to be sure I knew exactly what it meant. Before that, it was an expression that I had rarely (if ever) heard. That book was published in 2003, but I didn’t read it until maybe 2006.
Ngram Viewer tracks it only up to 2008:
I think for some people, it’s a polite way of saying someone is evil. “Evil” has connotations with demons and souls and other spiritual voodoo. But “sociopath” has a clinical, non-judgmental ring to it.
It’s kind of like how “autistic” and “aspie-like” have become shorthand for someone who possesses poor social skills. It doesn’t seem matter to folks that you can have poor social skills without actually being autistic, or that autism is much more than not being able to read a room. They just sound better than calling someone an asshole or weirdo. (And it has the side benefit of making the speaker seem more aware about the contemporary issues of the day.)
(Another one is OCD, except that one is usually used in a self-deprecating way. But it’s misused as well. OCD people aren’t particularly anal or nitpicky. People with OCPD, however, are. I’m always tempted to correct people when they confuse the two, but I don’t want to come across as anal or nitpicky. :))
Technically, I think both are part of what the DSM-IV calls “Antisocial personality disorder”. But you are correct. “psychopaths” generally refer to unstable, violent, dangerous lunatics who are unable to hide their craziness (like Charles Manson or Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs). “Sociopaths” are able to pass themselves off as “normal” (like Ted Bundy or Hannibal Lechter).
In popular media, the sociopath is often portrayed as a smooth, sophisticated, charming, calculating genius. The sociopath is frequently portrayed as a damaged and sympathetic character in a world where they are surrounded by corrupt idiots and jerks. Often his violent tendencies are portrayed as being targeted towards people who are deserving (at least in a fictional setting).
Notable examples that fit the model include Patrick Bateman from American Psycho, Dexter, Hannibal Lechter.
IRL, people actually suffering from Antisocial Personality Disorder suffer from the following (from DSM-IV):
1.failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest;
2.deception, as indicated by repeatedly lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure;
3.impulsivity or failure to plan ahead;
4.irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults;
5.reckless disregard for safety of self or others;
6.consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations;
7.lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another
Most of these behaviors make it difficult for a true “sociopath” or “psychopath” to hold down a job, let alone rise to some position of authority.
Most likely the people who are labeled as “sociopaths” are simply jerks, highly narcissistic or suffering from some other social disorder.
I think this is the answer. My impression is that “sociopath” came into professional vogue because “psychopath” had been bastardized just this way and lost a lot of its former heft in the process. At this point the same thing has happened to the word sociopath as far as I’m concerned.
Four syllables. Makes you sound smart.