I keep wavering on whether to use the term ‘sociopath’ or ‘psychopath’.

‘Sociopath’ is in vogue in roughly a trillion different contexts these days.  It depends on whether you are using it as a synonym for ‘ASPD, non-psychopath’ or ‘psychopath’.  The problem has become that non-psychopaths are using the word – as far as I can tell – to mean ‘ASPD’ and psychopaths are using the word to mean – well – psychopath.

The problem is further exacerbated by the fact that, due to the plethora of ways that psychopathy can manifest, psychopathy is often interpreted in a much more hyperbolic manner than necessary. Not to say that there really is any such thing as ‘mild’ psychopathy.  Most psychopaths aren’t Ted Bundy is the point I’m trying to get at.

So this leads to psychopaths calling themselves sociopaths, ASPD-only individuals calling themselves sociopaths, and NTs using the word in contexts that may or may not even make sense.

Thoughts?