thanks, capo. It's a reasonable, clear explanation of the difference but... well, consider this: The word is a compound of two greek words: psycho (psyche) and pathos (suffering) so one is tempted to interpret the word as referring to someone who is suffering psychologically, ie, to put it concretely, "mentally", though there's nothing "concrete" about either the mind or the psyche. We may wish to disregard its etymology and look at the modern use of the word but -from the research I've done the last couple of days- we still end up with an affliction related to the mind. After all, personality (and its disorder) is also situated in that part of the mind that creates conceptions and views of the world. Psychiatrists are still indefinite about whether this acute or severe personality disorder is genetically carried or if we all carry it but most of us (called "the norm") are able, through nurture, to disallow it from affecting our conceptions of the world, ie, our "mind set." So far as I can tell, the names, "mentally ill" and "psychopath" declare a person who is ill -in some way or another. To put it simplistically, a person who is outside the norm, ie an "abnormal" person is in some measure "ill." In the greater number of instances, these ill people (abnormal) contribute enormously to society by their abnormal energy, abnormally broad imagination, creativity, intelligence, etc. They don't get jailed because their abnomality is a positive. It is those other abnormal people who, for some reason which I've yet to understand, subvert the social norm in a distinctly negative way that end up (as they should) in jail. I'm only trying to reconcile the judges statement which was, in words to the effect, that "you're not mentally ill, you're a psychopath." I've got a fair number of books here but they seem to be outdated, if one is to judge by what's been written recently and published on the net. I am not at all unsatisfied with the sentence the judge gave Dupas. Such people, whatever we call them, should be kept well away from the society at large. Their damage is not only the excruciating physical and psychological pain inflicted upon their victims and their relatives but one would be forgiven for thinking that these people also cause great damage to the norms of a society, norms that keep us cohesive, civil and functioning. Once again, thanks to all who have attempted to unmuddy my mental waters!
