Psychopath

Psychopath

Noun · /ˈsaɪkəpæθ/ · a person with a persistent disorder of personality marked by lack of empathy and antisocial behaviour

Definition

A psychopath is a person with a severe and persistent personality disorder characterised by a lack of empathy, shallow emotional responses, chronic antisocial behaviour, and a tendency to manipulate others without remorse. In clinical psychiatry, the term is not an official diagnosis — it falls within the broader category of antisocial personality disorder in the DSM-5. Psychopathy is assessed using tools such as the Hare Psychopathy Checklist, which measures traits across interpersonal, affective, lifestyle, and antisocial dimensions.

Origin

From Greek psyche — soul or mind — and pathos — suffering or disease. A psychopath is literally one whose mind is diseased or disordered. The word was coined in the 19th century as European psychiatry began cataloguing personality disorders. The term was widely used by the early 20th century, though its clinical precision has always been debated alongside its popular use in crime narratives.