English dictionary · noun

psychopathy

A personality disorder characterized by impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egocentric traits masked by superficial charm and the outward presence of apparent normality. Violent and criminal offenses may be indicative of this disorder.

Meaning and definitions

1. A personality disorder characterized by impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egocentric traits masked by superficial charm and the outward presence of apparent normality. Violent and criminal offenses may be indicative of this disorder.
2. A mental illness; insanity.

Connected roots

• psych-

  soul, mind

• path-

  feeling, suffering, disease

Explore the word family

These words share a recorded root connection. A shared root is a learning clue; it does not establish every step in a word’s history.

• psychology

  the scientific study of the human mind and its functions

• pathetic

  Arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion; exciting pathos.

• sympathy

  feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune

• psychiatric

  Of, or relating to, psychiatry.

• empathy

  the ability to understand and share the feelings of another

• pathology

  the science of the causes and effects of diseases

• psychiatry

  the study and treatment of mental illness

• psychopath

  a person with a chronic mental disorder marked by antisocial behavior

• apathy

  lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

• psychosis

  A severe mental disorder, sometimes with physical damage to the brain, marked by a deranged personality and a distorted view of reality.

• pathogen

  An agent that can cause disease, especially an infectious microorganism, such as a bacterium, virus, protozoon or fungus.

• psychoanalysis

  A family of theories and methods within the field of psychotherapy that work to find connections among patients' unconscious mental processes.

• telepathy

  The capability to communicate directly by psychic means; the sympathetic affection of one mind by the thoughts, feelings, or emotions of another at a distance, without communication through the ordinary channels of sensation.

• pathogenesis

  The origin and development of a disease.

• antipathy

  a deep-seated feeling of dislike

• encephalopathy

  Any of various conditions affecting the brain.

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