*Warning: This is not an actual diagnosis since I am not a medical professional, and this article is for entertainment purposes only*
She says she doesn’t have time for this and definitely doesn’t have time for you, but is she a sociopath or worse, a psychopath? Anna Delvey/Sorokin entranced us with her charm and daring spirit to take on New York’s elite but, does her callous disregard for other people’s emotions make her a psychopath? Join me as we analyze the criteria of psychopathy, as defined by the DSM-V, and see whether our favorite, accented scam artist displays any of these telling symptoms.
According to the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), both sociopaths and psychopaths suffer from Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD). However, APD is often confused with Avoidant Personality Disorder characterized by social inhibition and feelings of inadequacy. And if one were to diagnose Anna properly, she would most likely receive a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder. Including symptoms like impulsivity, pathological personality traits and an inability to form interpersonal relationships. But, for the sake of this article and the numerous references to Anna’s psychopathy in the show, let’s dive into whether or not Anna is a psychopath.
Psychopaths and sociopaths are very similar. However, they can show up on the same spectrum, with psychopathy on the more severe side of the spectrum. The main difference between the two is that sociopaths can form brief, fleeting interpersonal relationships and can feel emotions.
Anna’s disregard for the law, pathological lying, impulsivity, irritability, and reckless disregard for others seem like incriminating evidence for her psychopath diagnosis. But, she also showed genuine affection for Neff and Chase at times. Her desperate need to be remembered and famous goes against a psychopath’s disregard for other people’s opinions.
Her lack of remorse, cruelty, and irresponsibility due to her lack of maturity indicates symptoms of psychopathy. However, one could argue that they were also the product of her upbringing and her desperate need to belong due to being scorned for her immigrant status and wanting to feel accepted.
Anna Delvey/ most people are complex and real. She has many layers to her, but don’t mistake that for her innocence. Psychopathy, or APD, is not a diagnosis that can be handed out lightly and can change a person’s punishment in a court of law. Does she display pathological personality traits? Yes. Could she potentially have another mental disorder? Yes. However, a Netflix reenactment is not an accurate representation of the many shades of grey in human society, and for that reason, Anna is not a psychopath.
Featured Image By Morgan Scruggs