Lots of people murder people without being psychopaths. It's a clinical term. They're not even close. Psychopaths don't have to murder anyone, either. Being one doesn't mean you're going to commit a crime, let alone murder someone.
Lots of people murder people without being psychopaths. It's a clinical term. They're not even close. Psychopaths don't have to murder anyone, either. Being one doesn't mean you're going to commit a crime, let alone murder someone.
I know what you're talking about but it just seems to me that a murderer like Norman Bates would be considered a psychopath. I mean, he kills people. He may not be the most gentle of psychopaths/sociopaths, but it just seems like you should be included if you constantly murder random people.
But you know that's not what determines what a psychopath is. Psychopath used like that is as generic and unhelpful as madman, lunatic or maniac. As a colloquialism it's fine, but after that it stops being helpful and, if anything, becomes a hinderence.
Besides, Norman wasn't killing random people. He killed women who sexually excited him and anone else who came after him due to that action.
In a Psych 101 manner, I'd go with psychotic. Maybe a borderline psychotic? I don't know, but I'd say his seperate personalities and delusions, that'd be my, barely educated, guess. But he's not psychopathic.
They're very different. As honeykid said psychosis involves delusions or disassociation from reality whereas a psychopath lacks a conscience and empathy and can be dangerous. Norman Bates isn't a psychopath, but he is psycho!!! (I couldn't resist!) Psychotic that is.