What is Antisocial Personality Disorder? It is known as “A psychiatric condition in which a person manipulates, exploits or violates the rights of others … this behavior is often criminal. One of the biggest signs of Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) is a pervasive disregard for right and wrong and for society’s norms.” (Source: Dr. J. Clive Spiegel M.D. in a Health Guru Video – https://www.youtube.com)
The symptoms of ASPD tend to be more obvious and identifiable in the late teens to early twenties. A person cannot be diagnosed with ASPD until he or she is at least 18 years of age and has usually displayed symptoms of Conduct Disorder, for example, stealing or violence, by the age of 15 years old. Conduct Disorder may be diagnosed “when a child seriously misbehaves with aggressive or non-aggressive behaviors against people, animals or property that may be characterized as belligerent, destructive, threatening, physically cruel, deceitful, disobedient, or dishonest. This may include stealing, intentional injury, and forced sexual activity.” (Source: http://behavenet.com/conduct-disorder) ASPD includes both people categorized as sociopaths and people that fit the criteria of being psychopaths.
Complications of this very difficult to treat personality disorder include:
- Drug Abuse
- Impulse Control Problems – for example excessive gambling and/or drinking
- Rarely realize they need help or seek treatment on their own
- Often only begin therapy when mandated to do so by a court
- Incarceration in Prison or a Psychiatric Facility
Traits of Antisocial Personality Disorder include:
- Constant disregard for social norms along with the violation of legal rights of others often dating back into their teenage years, such as Stealing, Pathological Lying and Deceit of others for personal gain, Aggression
- An almost impossible time respecting or connecting with other people
- Often engaging in criminal activity that is often the result of frequent contact and problems with the law, police, and/or justice system
- Impulsive and not able to make plans for the future
- A quick and aggressive temper resulting in frequent fights with and assaults of others
- On-going failure to honor obligation or promises
- Intimidation of others
- Blatant disregard for the rights and feelings of others
- Do not have capacity to care about pain or problems they cause others
- Inability to impossibility of engaging in real intimacy with another person
- Very adept at displaying superficial charm
- Flattery of others that is manipulative
- Manipulative in all areas of personality, relating and life
- Violent and aggressive behavior is typical
- Do not feel any guilt for their actions
- Do not have any empathy for others
- Have no capacity or feeling of remorse
reserved. Written and published first for Mental-Health-Matters.com
