I have noticed recently that several television shows depict mental illness incorrectly. For example they might say someone is schizophrenic when they mean they have dissociative identity disorder, also known as multiple personally disorder, or they say psychopath when they mean psychotic. There is a huge difference and the entertainment world should check their facts and present the information in an accurate manner.
Schizophrenia does not refer to someone who has multiple personalities. I recall as a child hearing someone negatively referring to another person who appeared to have multiple personalities as a schizo. Even now in 2014 I heard someone the other day jokingly referring to themselves as schizophrenic because they were running around like multiple people. Schizophrenia is not multiple personalities.
Schizophrenia is characterized by having hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations are seeing or hearing things that aren’t there. Delusions are the belief in something that isn’t true. Those who live with schizophrenia do not "black out," but rather lose a sense of reality.
According to www.webmd.com Dissociative identity disorder is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct or split identities or personality states that continually have power over the person's behavior. With dissociative identity disorder, there's also an inability to recall key personal information (black outs) that is too far-reaching to be explained as mere forgetfulness. With dissociative identity disorder, there are also highly distinct memory variations, which fluctuate with the person's split personality.
Psychotic--the existence of specific symptoms such as delusions, prominent hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behavior. In layman's terms a psychotic individual could be described as someone who is "insane."
Psychopath--Psychopathy is defined as a personality disorder in which the following traits or exhibited: 1) Glib and superficial charm, 2) Grandiose exaggeration of self, 3) Need for stimulation, 4) Pathological lying, 5) Cunning and manipulativeness, 6) Lack of remorse or guilt, 7) Shallow affect, 8) Callousness and lack of empathy, 9) Parasitic lifestyle, 10) Poor behavioral controls 11) Sexual promiscuity, 12) Early behavior problems, 13) Lack of realistic long-term goals, 14) Impulsivity, 15) Irresponsibility, 16) Failure to accept responsibility for own actions, 17) Many short-term marital relationships, 18) Juvenile delinquency, 19) Revocation of conditional release, 20) Criminal versatility. Furthermore, Psychopaths typically do not show signs of having a conscience and are highly intelligent individuals.
The term psychopath and sociopath are often used interchangeably, but there are subtle differences. Sociopaths are often higher functioning than psychopaths. Where psychopaths are impulsive, sociopaths are meticulous planners. Psychopaths tend to have no empathy or emotion for others, but sociopaths can have feelings for those in their inner circle.
According to http://knowledgenuts.com/2013/11/03/the-difference-between-psychopaths-and-sociopaths/
The term “psychopath” is usually used to describe a person that has crossed the line of moral behavior in a society. They’re the murderers, the school shooters, the manipulative cult leaders. They’re the ones mutilating animals just to see what happens. They’re also the ones that society views as a danger to others. On the other hand, a person is deemed a sociopath when they have the lack of emotion and ability to relate to others, but aren’t a threat to society. While they’re not as dangerous, they can still be destructive in a smaller, personal setting such as in friendships, romantic relationships, or in a family. But they’re generally not going to go on a killing spree.
Another big difference between the two is how they’re created. Recently, psychologists have begun to differentiate these processes. A psychopath is always a psychopath; genetic traits or chemical makeup causes the person to lack the ethics and empathy most of us have. Signs that something is not quite right with the person are generally visible from a very young age. A sociopath, however, often becomes one as a product of his or her upbringing. Environmental factors such as abuse or a cold, difficult childhood can cause a person to emotionally shut down and gradually devolve into sociopathy.
Remember 1 in 4 people in the United States are affected by mental illness. This means you or someone you know has a mental illness or is affected by someone with a mental illness. It is all around us, get involved and learn more.
Schizophrenia does not refer to someone who has multiple personalities. I recall as a child hearing someone negatively referring to another person who appeared to have multiple personalities as a schizo. Even now in 2014 I heard someone the other day jokingly referring to themselves as schizophrenic because they were running around like multiple people. Schizophrenia is not multiple personalities.
Schizophrenia is characterized by having hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations are seeing or hearing things that aren’t there. Delusions are the belief in something that isn’t true. Those who live with schizophrenia do not "black out," but rather lose a sense of reality.
According to www.webmd.com Dissociative identity disorder is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct or split identities or personality states that continually have power over the person's behavior. With dissociative identity disorder, there's also an inability to recall key personal information (black outs) that is too far-reaching to be explained as mere forgetfulness. With dissociative identity disorder, there are also highly distinct memory variations, which fluctuate with the person's split personality.
Psychotic--the existence of specific symptoms such as delusions, prominent hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behavior. In layman's terms a psychotic individual could be described as someone who is "insane."
Psychopath--Psychopathy is defined as a personality disorder in which the following traits or exhibited: 1) Glib and superficial charm, 2) Grandiose exaggeration of self, 3) Need for stimulation, 4) Pathological lying, 5) Cunning and manipulativeness, 6) Lack of remorse or guilt, 7) Shallow affect, 8) Callousness and lack of empathy, 9) Parasitic lifestyle, 10) Poor behavioral controls 11) Sexual promiscuity, 12) Early behavior problems, 13) Lack of realistic long-term goals, 14) Impulsivity, 15) Irresponsibility, 16) Failure to accept responsibility for own actions, 17) Many short-term marital relationships, 18) Juvenile delinquency, 19) Revocation of conditional release, 20) Criminal versatility. Furthermore, Psychopaths typically do not show signs of having a conscience and are highly intelligent individuals.
The term psychopath and sociopath are often used interchangeably, but there are subtle differences. Sociopaths are often higher functioning than psychopaths. Where psychopaths are impulsive, sociopaths are meticulous planners. Psychopaths tend to have no empathy or emotion for others, but sociopaths can have feelings for those in their inner circle.
According to http://knowledgenuts.com/2013/11/03/the-difference-between-psychopaths-and-sociopaths/
The term “psychopath” is usually used to describe a person that has crossed the line of moral behavior in a society. They’re the murderers, the school shooters, the manipulative cult leaders. They’re the ones mutilating animals just to see what happens. They’re also the ones that society views as a danger to others. On the other hand, a person is deemed a sociopath when they have the lack of emotion and ability to relate to others, but aren’t a threat to society. While they’re not as dangerous, they can still be destructive in a smaller, personal setting such as in friendships, romantic relationships, or in a family. But they’re generally not going to go on a killing spree.
Another big difference between the two is how they’re created. Recently, psychologists have begun to differentiate these processes. A psychopath is always a psychopath; genetic traits or chemical makeup causes the person to lack the ethics and empathy most of us have. Signs that something is not quite right with the person are generally visible from a very young age. A sociopath, however, often becomes one as a product of his or her upbringing. Environmental factors such as abuse or a cold, difficult childhood can cause a person to emotionally shut down and gradually devolve into sociopathy.
Remember 1 in 4 people in the United States are affected by mental illness. This means you or someone you know has a mental illness or is affected by someone with a mental illness. It is all around us, get involved and learn more.
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