PSYCHOPATH VS SOCIOPATH
Television’s Eddie Haskell Was a Psychopath
The Antagonist From Leave It to Beaver Needed Therapy
As a therapist, quite a few people ask me what the difference between a sociopath and a psychopath is in individuals. With the frequent killings of others here in America, people are generally curious. They want to know, “Can I, as a non-mental health person, identify a psychopath or sociopath if I met them?”
What I can tell you is this: 1. Psychopaths are much harder to identify than sociopaths. 2. Sociopaths are more prevalent but still at an average of 4% of the population vs. 1% for psychopaths. 3. Neither label is an actual diagnosis in the DSM bible of mental challenges.
Lately, my husband and I are rewatching Leave It to Beaver episodes. It’s very interesting to watch old shows as an adult therapist versus processing it when we were kids. Being able to break down behaviors and realize some of the characters have severe mental issues is a little stunning.
Nevertheless, it is in my habitual mind to do so with media characters and personalities. Not to harshly judge but to refine my skills sort of speak. And let me tell you, Eddie Haskell was a psychopath.
