psychopaths and sexual sadism “Pleasure is sweetest when it is paid for by the pain of others. » (The art of love, AD8). Psychopathy and sexual sadism have similar characteristics that attract public interest. Both of these disorders can cause extreme destruction to society and their victims. Psychopathy is a personality disorder that deviates from societal norms. Some of the characteristics can range from lack of empathy to self-centered and selfish attributes with little or no respect for others (Mokros, Osterheider, Hucker, & Nitschke, 2011). While sexual sadism is more of a paraphilia when people achieve sexual arousal by inflicting pain on others (Mokros et al., 2011). Both disorders have many similar characteristics and attributes, leading us to try to find common denominators. The focal point tries to reach a conclusion that can improve the person suffering from the disorder. Since causation does not imply a correlation between the two disorders, it is beneficial to find the distinctive root. One of the main concerns is the outcome when both disorders are present in one person could lead to potential homicides (Myers, Chan, Vo, & Lazarou, 2010). Psychopathy and sexual sadism share some important characteristics that differ from other personality disorders in severity (Mokros et al., 2011). Obviously, breaking down each disorder would require too much time than identifying specific characteristics of a similar nature. The ability to reduce or even eliminate problem behaviors can reduce rates of abuse in society. Even though the rate is already considered low compared to other murders and abuses. Later, the information in this research paper will compare and...... middle of document...... retrieved April 15, 2014 from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr. 2007.01. 011Mokros, A., Osterheider, M., Hucker, SJ and Nitschke, J. (2011). Psychopathy and sexual sadism. Law and Human Behavior, 35(3), 188-199. doi:10.1007/s10979-010-9221-9Myers, WC, (Oliver) Chan, HC, Vo, EJ, and Lazarou, E. (2010). Sexual sadism, psychopathy, and recidivism in juvenile sexual murders. Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling, 7, 49-58. doi: 10.1002/jip.113 Palermo, GB (2013). The different faces of sadism. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 57(4), 399-401. doi:10.1177/0306624X13480125Porter, S., Woodworth, M., Earle, J., Drugge, J., & Boer, D. (2003). Characteristics of sexual homicides committed by psychopathic and non-psychopathic offenders. Law and Human Behavior, 27(5), 459-470. do I: 0147-7307/03/1000-0459/1