Sorry to go "Professor Twist" on you, but Putin is a *psychopath*, NOT a "sociopath." The "socio" in "sociopath" means that the person LACKS social skills. Typically sociopaths have trouble staying in school, getting and holding jobs, ingratiating themselves to others, etc. While it breaks the school "rule" (which is more of a guideline anyway), think Ted Kaczinski (the Unabomber, sociopath, though he did have a Ph.D. in mathematics), vs Ted Bundy (who, but for the whole serial killer thing, was loved by everyone. He worked in a suicide prevention hotline as one of their best people.) Trump, for example, is also a psychopath rather than a sociopath.
I copied this out for my own aid in separating the two:
Sociopaths vs. Psychopaths
• A disregard for laws and social mores
• A disregard for the rights of others
• A failure to feel remorse or guilt
• A tendency to display violent or aggressive behavior
Sociopaths tend to be nervous and easily agitated. They are volatile and prone to emotional outbursts, including fits of rage. They are more likely than are psychopaths to be uneducated and live on the fringes of society. They are sometimes unable to hold down a steady job or to stay in one place for very long. It is often difficult, but not entirely impossible, for sociopaths to form attachments with others.
Psychopaths are unable to form emotional attachments. Psychopaths tend to be aggressive and predatory in nature. They view others as objects for their amusement. Although they lack empathy, psychopaths often have disarming or even charming personalities. They are manipulative and can easily gain people’s trust. They learn to mimic emotions, despite their inability to actually feel them and will appear normal to unsuspecting people. Psychopaths are often well-educated and hold steady jobs.
There's actually some debate here, which is interesting. If you Google "Is Putin a sociopath or a psychopath," you will find a range of opinions ranging from the former, the latter, or a third option, which is "hardcore idealogue."
I'm with you, though. I think he's a psychopath. But that is hardly the important takeaway from this article, of course.
So well written and spot on.
Sorry to go "Professor Twist" on you, but Putin is a *psychopath*, NOT a "sociopath." The "socio" in "sociopath" means that the person LACKS social skills. Typically sociopaths have trouble staying in school, getting and holding jobs, ingratiating themselves to others, etc. While it breaks the school "rule" (which is more of a guideline anyway), think Ted Kaczinski (the Unabomber, sociopath, though he did have a Ph.D. in mathematics), vs Ted Bundy (who, but for the whole serial killer thing, was loved by everyone. He worked in a suicide prevention hotline as one of their best people.) Trump, for example, is also a psychopath rather than a sociopath.
I copied this out for my own aid in separating the two:
Sociopaths vs. Psychopaths
• A disregard for laws and social mores
• A disregard for the rights of others
• A failure to feel remorse or guilt
• A tendency to display violent or aggressive behavior
Sociopaths tend to be nervous and easily agitated. They are volatile and prone to emotional outbursts, including fits of rage. They are more likely than are psychopaths to be uneducated and live on the fringes of society. They are sometimes unable to hold down a steady job or to stay in one place for very long. It is often difficult, but not entirely impossible, for sociopaths to form attachments with others.
Psychopaths are unable to form emotional attachments. Psychopaths tend to be aggressive and predatory in nature. They view others as objects for their amusement. Although they lack empathy, psychopaths often have disarming or even charming personalities. They are manipulative and can easily gain people’s trust. They learn to mimic emotions, despite their inability to actually feel them and will appear normal to unsuspecting people. Psychopaths are often well-educated and hold steady jobs.
Quoted from:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/wicked-deeds/201801/the-differences-between-psychopaths-and-sociopaths
There's actually some debate here, which is interesting. If you Google "Is Putin a sociopath or a psychopath," you will find a range of opinions ranging from the former, the latter, or a third option, which is "hardcore idealogue."
I'm with you, though. I think he's a psychopath. But that is hardly the important takeaway from this article, of course.
Like I said, it was pretty "Professor Twist-y" of me.