by Turncoat
"A lot of sociopaths have a history of child abuse in some form or another. There is strong indication that this may have caused stunted brain development, which in turn created many of their sociopathic traits."
What differences would you say there are in this case that could help identify someone's case as sociopathy as opposed to a form of PTSD? Both can have things like emotional numbing and violent impulses.
There are several characteristics of PTSD that separate it from sociopathy:
People with PTSD often experience feelings of panic or extreme fear, similar to the fear they felt during the traumatic event. A person with PTSD experiences four main types of difficulties.
- Re-living the traumatic event – The person relives the event through unwanted and recurring memories, often in the form of vivid images and nightmares. There may be intense emotional or physical reactions, such as sweating, heart palpitations or panic when reminded of the event.
- Being overly alert or wound up – The person experiences sleeping difficulties, irritability and lack of concentration, becoming easily startled and constantly on the lookout for signs of danger.
- Avoiding reminders of the event – The person deliberately avoids activities, places, people, thoughts or feelings associated with the event because they bring back painful memories.
- Feeling emotionally numb – The person loses interest in day-to-day activities, feels cut off and detached from friends and family, or feels emotionally flat and numb.
source: http://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/types-of-anxiety/ptsd
I doubt any psychologist in their right mind would confuse PTSD for sociopathy, or vice versa.
Also, for your specific case, how much of it can you be sure is sociopathy and not just manifestations of schizoid personality disorder?
There are some significant differences between schizoid PD, AsPD and psychopathy.
The antisociial and psychopathic traits I exhibit that do not relate to schizoid PD are:
- Marked readiness to blame others or to offer plausible rationalizations for the behavior that has brought the person into conflict with society.
- impulsivity or failure to plan ahead;
- Using charm or wit to manipulate others for personal gain or for sheer personal pleasure
- Intense egocentrism, sense of superiority and exhibitionism
- Hostility, significant irritability, agitation, impulsiveness, aggression or violence
- Unnecessary risk-taking or dangerous behaviors
- Need for stimulation / Proneness to Boredom
- Many short term relationships
- Pathological lying
- Poor behavioral controls
- Sexual promiscuity
It could be argued that these traits I exhibit could relate to schizoid PD instead of sociopathy:
- Gross and persistent attitude of irresponsibility and disregard for social norms, rules, and obligations;
- Callous unconcern for the feelings of others;
- Incapacity to experience guilt or to profit from experience, particularly punishment;
- lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another;
- Disregard for right and wrong
- Shallow affect (superficial emotional responsiveness)
- Parasitic lifestyle
- Lack of realistic long-term goals