Sociopath, Narcissist, or just a plain entitled, and self-centered jerk?

So, a former friend of mine acts in a confusing way. I can't seem to distinguish it, so maybe you guys could help out. I'm really interested in finding out what this could be, so here's a list of their behaviors/traits I see:

• They don't care if their actions hurt others emotionally (or physically) - they are a sadist.
• They think that they are always in the right, even when they are not.
• They are entitled, and self-centered.
• If someone (like a friend) makes a significant mistake (well, maybe to them), that is automatically their last chance, and they are viewed very badly.
• They claim that they could do nefarious acts without feeling any remorse in the end (implies the first point).
• They don't care about other's feelings (implies the first point).
• Their friends are in "importance"(?) rankings.

I will also mention that when the friendship ended, I found out that he told some false information about my actions done in a situation to make me look bad.


So, what could this be? *thinking*

Psychopath - simply doesn't feel guilt, remorse, anxiety, superficial charm usually
Sociopath - similar but is made, conditioned by society, so probably not quite as cool and unphased
Narcissist - fundamentally low self esteem, driven by surface, all about them, makes you doubt your own reality, cares about what others think.

(something like that, based on a YT vid I literally just watched)

Also don't discount the possibility you are selectively interpreting their actions and under representing your own (maybe not, just saying, before labelling someone with one of these disorders you should take a very close look at your own behaviour).

Could be any of them though, or just a millenial.

I've already looked at my own behavior... this person was a bully to one of my friends. Long story...
Also, then I think I might've given this thread the wrong title...

Sounds like his problem is that he is a human being.

eww i hate him. sounds like hes all of the above

I don't believe there is a meaningful distinction between sociopath or psychopath or that they have meaning beyond a social descriptor like 'that's a loud person'

some people described as sociopaths have terrible upbringings, others people conclude have some genetic/biological thing going on, others seem to get injured and become that way after being injured despite having a good upbringing. There is likely a lot of overlap between these groups. They probably all have genetic propensity. Perhaps those who people consider psychopaths are just the ones that have a higher IQ and are less aggressive or unpredictable.

I hate shows like this they're tacky at best and exploitative at worse, but let's use her as an example. Would she be considered a psychopath or a sociopath? She's neurologically altered, but it was seemingly triggered by an response to an environmental circumstance when her behaviour quickly changed afterwards (head trauma after an accident in early childhood)







Sometimes depressive personalities superficially mimic psychopaths in their traits/behaviour as well (when they end up committing a serious crime, people no longer care about the distinction yet the pathology is different as are the emotional/psychological routes taken to reach that point. The vast majority of school shooters are depressives and autistic people with narcissistic traits which you could define as psychopathic if you wanted and yet there are nuanced differences in various cases) I think I'll use the Columbine killers as an example since they were one of each:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_H..._investigation

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_a...a=gdpr-consent

No idea in the case of your friend, you've not given enough information. Lots of people have 'psychopathic' traits and people also often have narcissistic traits.

Any of them could apply, the last one being the most likely.

As a rule only a psychiatrist should give a diagnostic.

Only as a discussion, both NPD and APD can share the traits you've mentioned. Also in some cases, someone might have a personality disorder and also have traits from another one (you could have NPD with APD traits, or NPD with Borderline traits for example) or share traits from one or more personality disorders but not "match" the diagnosis criteria for it/either.

The main difference would be that someone with NPD is very motivated to gain fame, admiration, the position in society they feel they deserve. Yes, some people with APD might want this things, but it isn't their main motivation.
Overly violent behaviour is more often associated with APD, though they can all be dangerous if you are perceived as a threat or that you somehow harmed them.
Many narcissists don't actually want to do any nefarious things to those that they didn't deem an enemy. Might be arrogant, might think they are way better than you, might be indifferent to your needs or feelings but they might not be at all interested in something bad happening to you. Obviously there are exceptions.

So, technically I don't know why someone with NPD would claim they could do nefarious things without feeling remorse given how such an affirmation is in general perceived by others,. Might be that they hate that person and are using it to intimidate. Might be that someone with APD likes to see others scared of him.

Just as likely that it is just a jerk who enjoys scaring others this way. Also, if he is a teen or even an adult in a criminal group (or one who opposes rules and praise aggressive behaviour)- might also be bragging.

Without a specialist examining him, you will never know if he has a personality disorder or is just an abusive person. I'd say whatever it is, you should be glad you are out.

Inform yourself about the personality disorders and then pay no more attention to this ******* that you describe.