What is a sociopath?

"Sociopath" was a term used in the past for a patient with antisocial personality disorder, according to MedicineNet. A person with this disorder shows a strong pattern of systemically violating and disregarding the rights of others, and he normally does not feel guilty when his actions hurt other people.

Other characteristics of a sociopath, or a person with antisocial personality disorder, often include a disregard for his own safety and the safety of others, a noticeable lack of assuming responsibility for his actions, anger and aggressiveness, poor impulse control, and repeated dishonesty, reports MedicineNet. A sociopath also lacks empathy, according to Mayo Clinic, so he is unable to understand or care about how another person is feeling.