Borderline vs. psychopath

[Family Court Strategies: When Your Partner Has BPD OR NPD Traits.]

My ex has been diagnosed with BPD. I now question if she is a psychopath. She can't tell the truth under any circumstance.  She recently took the mmpi, scored 72 on the pd section-60 overall. She has put me through hell and has no empathy for any impact on me. My real question is what is the real distinction between BPD and psychopathy. Thanks

[Jacidrinkswine]

My ex has been diagnosed with BPD. I now question if she is a psychopath. She can't tell the truth under any circumstance.  She recently took the mmpi, scored 72 on the pd section-60 overall. She has put me through hell and has no empathy for any impact on me. My real question is what is the real distinction between BPD and psychopathy. Thanks

[formflier]

An interesting question,

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mindmelding/201301/what-is-psychopath-0


Why would it matter to you if she is one or the other?


Here is a general observation and guidance.  Many people come here trying to "figure out" what is up with the borderline in their life.  I am included in this grouping of people.  I thought if I could just get a diagnosis, that everything else would just fall into line and get fixed.

As I learned and matured with my borderline skills, I realized that it is best to leave the psych labels to the professionals and focus on my interpersonal skills with my wife.  To be able to validate, uphold boundaries and to think things through about how my actions may affect an unstable or mentally ill person.

Sure I can carry on a conversation with a mental health professional and use all the appropriate terms for the paranoia that seems to be my wife's core issue.   But when I try to use those terms or think about those terms when my wife is around, I'm sure it makes me appear judgmental or act as if there is something wrong with my wife.

Well, there is something wrong with her.  But it doesn't help anyone to remind them of that. 

Remember that pwBPD are very perceptive and can pick up subtle differences in how you "present" to them.

Jacidrinkswine,

How does this sound to you? 

What are the behaviors that seem to bug you the most about your wife?

FF

[Circle]

I've wondered that about my dxBPDso. I did a little research and I discovered, if memory serves me right; that there is a significant lack of genuine emotion with sociopathic people. This is in stark contrast to pwBPD, who have strong emotional reactions; and not only anger. Some of the manifestations appear the same, with BPD and psycho/sociopathy, from my personal experience. These include lying, plays for pity and bad behavior in general.

Seems like formflier hit the nail on the head, when asking "Why would it matter to you if she is one or the other?"

Although, I might venture a guess that people could work with borderlines and achieve some amount of success, using the right tools. Whereas, a sociopath might appear to get their stuff together, smile at you, and meanwhile be holding a sharp blade behind their back. My understanding is that psycho/sociopathy is on a spectrum too though; and not all of them would consider murder, when furious (they experience anger from what I read), if it was a viable option (and they could get away with it).