Anti Social Personality Disorder 1

Running Head: Anti Social Personality Disorder

Anti Social Personality Disorder

Deliane Ambrose

Colorado Technical University

Abnormal Psychology
 Anti Social Personality Disorder 2

As people we show who we are through our personalities, the way we interact with

others, think and how we behave. If our behavior is seen as inflexible, anti-social or maladaptive

we’re usually diagnosed with a personality disorder. Most personality disorders begin to peak

with younger adults, they are not considered to be a mental illness because they do not interfere

with our intellectual, emotional and perceptual functioning. According to the DSM-IV-TR a

personality disorder is defined as behavior that goes against the expectation of one’s individual

culture because it’s seen as inflexible and pervasive. This illness can be stable over time and can

later lead to distress.

The DSM-IV has identified 10 personality disorders. Each personality has their set of behaviors
and symptoms. They’re group into three different clusters:

Cluster A
Paranoid personality disorder; Schizoid personality disorder; Schizotypal personality
disorder

Cluster B
Antisocial personality disorder; Borderline personality disorder; Histrionic personality
disorder; Narcissistic personality disorder

Cluster C
Avoidant personality disorder; Dependent personality disorder; Obsessive-compulsive
personality disorder

A diagnosis of personality disorder is only made where the person's problems result in

significant difficulty in their day-to-day activities and relationships, or cause significant distress.

Axis I disorders which major mental illness disorders fall under and personality disorders are

different from each other one personality disorders are not considered to be a mental illness.

Personality disorders are usually ongoing from adolescence and goes on throughout that person’s

lifetime whereas with Axis I disorder they affect an individual in different periods of illness then
 Anti Social Personality Disorder 3

it goes into remission. A further difference between personality disorders and the major clinical

syndromes listed in Axis I of DSM-IV-TR is that people with personality disorders may not

perceive that there is anything wrong with their behavior and are not motivated to change it.

Individuals with Anti-Social personality disorder show no regard for the rights of others.

This personality disorder manifests in early childhood and usually continues into their adulthood.

They are often intelligent, articulate individuals with ability to charm and manipulate others.

Their actions are based only on their desires; persons with this disorder demonstrate a pattern of

impulsive, irresponsible, thoughtless, and sometimes criminal behavior.

To properly diagnose Anti-Social Personality Disorder certain behaviors have to be

persistent and very disabling or distressing. Three or more of the following criteria’s must be

present: (1) Individual has to be at least 18 years old, (2) symptoms of conduct disorder must be

a part of their history before the age of 15 years. (3) There must be a pattern of violation and

disregard of the rights of others occurring since the age of 18.

Conduct disorder involves behavior that is set in a pattern and repeated constantly in

which the basic rights of others or major age appropriate rules are violated. Conduct disorder

falls into have four categories of specific behaviors characteristics: destruction of property,

deceitfulness or theft, aggression to people and their animals and serious violation of rules.

Individuals still suffer from Anti-social personality disorder as an adult some of the

symptoms they exhibit are their failure to conform to rules set by our society with respect to

lawful behavior. Persons with this disorder disregard the wishes, rights or feelings of others.

They are frequently deceitful and manipulative in order to gain personal profit or pleasure. A

pattern of impulsivity may be manifested by a failure to plan ahead. Decisions are made on the

spur of the moment, without forethought, and without consideration for the consequences to self
 Anti Social Personality Disorder 4

or others; this may lead to sudden changes of jobs, residences, or relationships. Individuals with

Antisocial Personality Disorder tend to be irritable and aggressive and may repeatedly get into

physical fights or commit acts of physical assault. Aggressive acts that are required to defend

oneself or someone else are not considered to be evidence for this item. These individuals also

display a reckless disregard for the safety of themselves others. They may engage in sexual

behavior or substance use that has a high risk for harmful consequences. They may neglect or

fail to care for a child in a way that puts the child in danger. Individual with Antisocial

Personality Disorder also tend to be consistently and extremely irresponsible. Irresponsible work

behavior may be indicated by significant periods of unemployment despite available job

opportunities, or by abandonment of several jobs without a realistic plan for getting another job.

There may also be a pattern of repeated absences from work that are not explained by illness

either in them or in their family.

Anti-Social Personality Disorder has also been referred to as psychopaths, sociopaths

or dyssocial personality disorder. Psychopathy is not considered to be a mental health disorder

that is formally recognized by the American Psychiatric Association. It is considered to be a

severe form of Anti-Social personality disorder. Psychopath or sociopath is individuals who

experience a lack of remorse or guilt about their actions and demonstrating antisocial behaviors.

Ronald Reagan assassination attempt by John Hinckley Jr. (Wolf, 1999) Mr. Hinckley

attempted to assassinate the president to impress movie star Jodie Foster. After the

arrest and trial of Hinckley, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity. (Wolf,

1999) This brought up a lot of controversy, and Hinckley was admitted to a

psychiatric hospital where he has stayed since. This brings up the question of who

should and who shouldn’t be considered insane at the time of a crime. All states
 Anti Social Personality Disorder 5

have variations on the insanity defense. But usually these crimes must be

committed in times where the criminal cannot control his impulses to commit such a

crime. This is not always true in the case of those with antisocial personality

disorder, who usually can control their actions. (Hare, 1999) Still, those with this

disorder are considered “natural born criminals,” and it is questionable whether the

insanity defense should be used to help treat these individuals instead of

incarcerate them.

Those with antisocial personality disorder fall under the category of “moral

insanity.” (Feeny, 2003) These individuals are deemed to be “moral imbeciles” in

the sense that they can’t really differentiate between right and wrong. Some argue

that those with antisocial personality disorder have the ability to internalize rules

and structures; others argue that these types of individuals lack a clear conscience,

Psychopathy is the second construct that is frequently confused with

antisocial personality disorder, or used in the place of AsPD. (Psychopathy, 2008)

Psychopathy was coined a psychological construct, that falls on a spectrum of

disorders ranging from narcissistic personality disorder on the low end, malignant

narcissism in the middle, and psychopathy on the high end. It is uncertain whether

psychopathy is more closely related to narcissistic personality disorder or antisocial

personality disorder, but both disorders seem to be present in psychopathy.

Typically, those in the field of psychology use antisocial personality disorder

interchangeably with psychopathy because the two have many overlapping

symptoms. (Psychopathy, 2008) The criteria for psychopathy are outlined through

the Hare Psychopathy Checklist, which is listed as:

 Anti Social Personality Disorder 6

The twenty traits assessed by the PCL-R score are:

•
glib and superficial charm
•
grandiose (exaggeratedly high) estimation of self
•
need for stimulation
•
pathological lying
•
cunning and manipulativeness
•
lack of remorse or guilt
•
shallow affect(superficial emotional responsiveness)
•
callousness and lack of empathy
•
parasitic lifestyle
•
poor behavioral controls
•
sexual promiscuity
•
early behavior problems
lack of realistic long-term goals
•

impulsivity
•

irresponsibility
•

failure to accept responsibility for own actions

•

many short-term marital relationships

•

juvenile delinquency
•

revocation of conditional release

•

criminal versatility

(Hare, 2002)

The overlapping of antisocial and narcissistic tendencies indicates that psychopaths

are a cross-hybrid of both the antisocial and narcissistic personality disorder. Others

in the field of psychology argue that psychopathy is merely antisocial personality

disorder developed through psychological/biological means. Research on

 Anti Social Personality Disorder 7

psychopathy is currently ambiguous, but there does seem to be a close connection

between psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder.

Other disorders that may overlap or be mistaken for antisocial personality

disorder are attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder,

schizophrenia and a host of other disorders. (Hare, 1992) Those with ADHD, bipolar

or schizophrenia may act in impulsive and antisocial manners. Low social cognition

combined with other psychological disorders may cause an individual to develop

antisocial tendencies (and many may meet the criteria for antisocial personality

disorder). Those with ADHD have the tendency to be impulsive and hyperactive.

They may engage in frequent antisocial behaviors, and may also become subject of

arrests through their lifetime. Those with bipolar disorder experience periods of

mania, in which they have trouble controlling their behaviors. (Diagnostic and

Statistics Manual IV, 2000) This may lead to impulsive and hyperactive periods

similar to those with ADHD. Those with schizophrenia undergo periods of negative

and positive symptoms. Positive symptoms of schizophrenia may include periods of extreme acting out

and uncontrollable behavior. (Diagnostic and Statistics Manual

IV, 2000) Many other psychological disorders may engage the person in further

antisocial tendencies, which may further allow them to meet the diagnostic criteria

for antisocial personality disorder.

Conclusion

Antisocial personality disorder is a psychological construct that affects the

behavior, responsiveness and belief system of those who are inflicted with it.

Typically, those with AsPD are aggressive, impulsive, reckless and irresponsible.
 Anti Social Personality Disorder 8

They are also characterized by a lack of a fully developed conscience. Their

behaviors cause them to engage in criminal and antisocial tendencies, and will

experience a care-free attitude towards their actions. Antisocial personality

disorder comes in many forms. Less severe cases of AsPD are the result of

psychological disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. More severe

cases of AsPD result in the status of “psychopath” or “sociopath.” Those with AsPD

are “natural born criminals.” Their behavioral tendencies predispose them to

criminal activities, which are frequently impulsive in nature. Their aggression may

lead to assaults on others or the destruction of property. While antisocial

personality disorder itself isn’t a dangerous disorder, if it is combined with other

psychological disorders (such as sadism and masochism), the result may cause

those inflicted with AsPD to become dangerous and lethal predators. The legal

system has devised methods of dealing with those with AsPD. Many treat them the

same as other offenders, while others recognize them as being “morally insane”

and not fully culpable of their actions. Treatment is also a concern for those with

AsPD, because it is uncertain whether or not they are treatable. Some of those with

AsPD may become worse after treatment due to increased levels of manipulation

and cunningness. Antisocial personality disorder is a problem that manifests itself

in neurological functioning problems. These individuals experience varying levels of

neurotransmitters, which cause them to act out in aggressive manners. They also

have the tendency to feel under-aroused, which encourages them to engage in risky

and dangerous behavior.

 Anti Social Personality Disorder 9

Antisocial personality disorder will continue to be studied. AsPD is the root

cause of many crimes, and needs to be studied properly to ensure that future

treatment options are available to those with the disorder. Once the medical field

understands how to treat those with AsPD, it may further extend its understanding

of treatment towards dangerous offenders and lethal predators. The answer to the

questions of treating these “innate criminals” may have the effect of improving

society as a whole by diminishing the high levels of criminal activities that are

caused by the small percentage of people with AsPD.

Campbell, John H. Profilers: Leading Investigators Take You Inside The Criminal Mind.
Amherst New York: Prometheus Books, 2004.
Cooper, Anne-Marin B. Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD). Armenian Medical
Network. <http://www.health.am/psy/antisocial-personality-disorder/>.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition. Arlington VA:
American Psychiatric Association, 2000.
Feeney, Adrian. Dangerous severe personality disorder. 2003. Dangerous
severAdvances in Psychiatric Treatment.
<http://apt.rcpsych.org/cgi/reprint/9/5/349?ck=nck>.
Grohol, John M. Antisocial Personality Disorder Treatment. 7 Sep 2006. Psych
Central. <http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx7t.htm>.
Hare, Robert D.; Hart, Stephen D.; Harpur, Timothy J. Psychopathy and the DSM-IV
Criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder. August 1991. Journal of Abnormal
Psychology.
<http://www.psych.utoronto.ca/users/peterson/psy430s2001/Hare%20RD%20
Psychopathy%20JAP%201991.pdf>.
Hare, Robert D. Dr. Robert Hare's Page for the Study of Psychopaths. January 29,
2002 <http://www.hare.org>.
Anti Social Personality Disorder 10