No inhiibitions, no moral sense, and no social structure : the etiology of the psychopath and the sociopath : a project based upon independent investigation

Author

Chad Melvin O'Brien, Smith College

Publication Date

2010

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Department

School for Social Work

Keywords

Psychology, Pathological-Etiology, Antisocial personality disorders-Etiology, Psychopaths, Psychopathy, Sociopathy

Abstract

Psychopathy and sociopathy are two personality disorders that are similar in action though different in origin. Whereas the psychopathic individual is a product of nature in that the origin of the social disorder originates in the mind, the sociopathic individual is a product of upbringing as sociopathy is more so a result of a learned/defensive behavior. Although the number is uncertain, there could be as many as ten million psychopathic and sociopathic people living in the United States today. This paper focuses on the etiology of both psychopathy and sociopathy. It also looks at how psychopathy and sociopathy are recognized in modern day American society and argues the importance of understanding these people as they have a devastating and long lasting affect on the world around them

Language

English

Comments

iii, 59 p. Thesis (M.S.W.)-Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2010. Includes bibliographical references (p. 50-59)

Recommended Citation

O'Brien, Chad Melvin, "No inhiibitions, no moral sense, and no social structure : the etiology of the psychopath and the sociopath : a project based upon independent investigation" (2010). Masters Thesis, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/theses/493