What does psychopathy mean?
Psychopathy is a term for a personality pattern associated with a marked lack of empathy and remorse, emotional coldness, manipulation, and disregard for others. In research and clinical discussion, it is usually understood as a narrower construct related to, but not identical with, antisocial personality disorder. Psychopathy is not itself a standalone diagnosis in major diagnostic manuals, and it should not be inferred from criminal behavior or a single violent act alone. Its characteristics are assessed through interviews and standardized measures, including the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised. In everyday language, the word is often used more broadly and sometimes figuratively to describe cruelty, ruthlessness, or an apparent absence of conscience. Because the technical and popular meanings differ considerably, careful writers reserve it for relevant behavioral patterns and avoid presenting it as a simple synonym for madness or evil.
nounA personality construct characterized by a profound lack of empathy and remorse, callousness, and persistent antisocial or manipulative behavior. Psychopathy is related to, but is not identical with, antisocial personality disorder.
- The clinical or research sense of psychopathy as a personality construct marked by callousness, manipulation, a lack of empathy, and little or no remorse.
- The figurative, nonclinical sense of psychopathy meaning extreme cruelty, moral indifference, or supposedly crazy or ruthless behavior.
"Researchers described the pattern as psychopathy, but cautioned that the label cannot be diagnosed from a single violent act."
"Researchers described the pattern as psychopathy, but cautioned that the label cannot be diagnosed from a single violent act."
"Novelists often use psychopathy as shorthand for a chilling absence of conscience."
The plural is grammatically possible but uncommon because psychopathy usually denotes a condition, personality pattern, or set of traits.
"The study compares psychopathies across several personality disorders."
Psychopathy sounds like a formal diagnosis, but major diagnostic manuals do not recognize it as a standalone disorder.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of psychopathy
Psychopathy combines Greek psychē, meaning “mind” or “soul,” with -pathy, a combining form based on Greek pathos, meaning “suffering” or “disease.” The formation therefore suggests a disease or disorder of the mind or soul. It entered English in medical and social-scientific writing during the 19th century, and related words such as psychology, psychiatry, and psychopathology share its Greek mental-health roots.
Related word forms
How psychopathy is actually used
In technical literature, psychopathy denotes a specific set of personality traits and should not be treated as a formal diagnosis or as proof of criminality. In general speech, it is sometimes used loosely for insanity, wickedness, or extreme ruthlessness, so context matters.
Easily confused with psychopathy
Psychopathy and sociopathy are often used interchangeably, but sociopathy is a broader, largely informal label, whereas psychopathy is a more specific research construct based on particular behavioral and interpersonal traits.
Antisocial personality disorder is the formal diagnostic category, while psychopathy describes a narrower pattern of traits that may be present in people who do not meet all the criteria for that diagnosis.