[SPOILER ALERT: THESE PEOPLE
DO NOT GET ACCESS TO WEAPONS]
Overview
Antisocial personality
disorder, sometimes called sociopathy, is a mental condition in which a person
consistently shows no regard for right and wrong and ignores the rights and
feelings of others. People with antisocial personality disorder tend to
antagonize, manipulate or treat others harshly or with callous indifference.
They show no guilt or remorse for their behavior.
Individuals with antisocial
personality disorder often violate the law, becoming criminals. They may lie,
behave violently or impulsively, and have problems with drug and alcohol use.
Because of these characteristics, people with this disorder typically can't
fulfill responsibilities related to family, work or school.
Symptoms
Antisocial personality
disorder signs and symptoms may include:
Disregard for right and wrong
Persistent lying or deceit to
exploit others
Being callous, cynical and
disrespectful of others
Using charm or wit to
manipulate others for personal gain or personal pleasure
Arrogance, a sense of
superiority and being extremely opinionated
Recurring problems with the
law, including criminal behavior
Repeatedly violating the
rights of others through intimidation and dishonesty
Impulsiveness or failure to
plan ahead
Hostility, significant
irritability, agitation, aggression or violence
Lack of empathy for others and
lack of remorse about harming others
Unnecessary risk-taking or
dangerous behavior with no regard for the safety of self or others
Poor or abusive relationships
Failure to consider the
negative consequences of behavior or learn from them
Being consistently
irresponsible and repeatedly failing to fulfill work or financial obligations
Adults with antisocial
personality disorder typically show symptoms of conduct disorder before the age
of 15. Signs and symptoms of conduct disorder include serious, persistent
behavior problems, such as:
Aggression toward people and
animals
Destruction of property
Deceitfulness
Theft
Serious violation of rules
Although antisocial
personality disorder is considered lifelong, in some people, certain symptoms —
particularly destructive and criminal behavior — may decrease over time. But
it's not clear whether this decrease is a result of aging or an increased
awareness of the consequences of antisocial behavior.
When to see a doctor
People with antisocial
personality disorder are likely to seek help only at the urging of loved ones.
If you suspect a friend or family member may have the disorder, you might
gently suggest that the person seek medical attention, starting with a primary
care physician or mental health professional.
Causes
Personality is the combination
of thoughts, emotions and behaviors that makes everyone unique. It's the way people
view, understand and relate to the outside world, as well as how they see
themselves. Personality forms during childhood, shaped through an interaction
of inherited tendencies and environmental factors.
The exact cause of antisocial
personality disorder isn't known, but:
Genes may make you vulnerable
to developing antisocial personality disorder — and life situations may trigger
its development
Changes in the way the brain
functions may have resulted during brain development
Risk factors
Certain factors seem to
increase the risk of developing antisocial personality disorder, such as:
Diagnosis of childhood conduct
disorder
Family history of antisocial
personality disorder or other personality disorders or mental illness
Being subjected to abuse or
neglect during childhood
Unstable, violent or chaotic
family life during childhood
Men are at greater risk of
having antisocial personality disorder than women are.
Complications
Complications, consequences
and problems of antisocial personality disorder may include, for example:
Spouse abuse or child abuse or
neglect
Alcohol or substance abuse
Being in jail or prison
Homicidal or suicidal
behaviors
Having other mental health
disorders such as depression or anxiety
Low social and economic
status, and homelessness
Gang participation
Premature death, usually as a
result of violence
Prevention
There's no sure way to prevent
antisocial personality disorder from developing in those at risk. Because
antisocial behavior is thought to have its roots in childhood, parents,
teachers and pediatricians may be able to spot early warning signs. It may help
to try to identify those most at risk, such as children who show signs of
conduct disorder, and then offer early intervention.
Early, effective and
appropriate discipline, lessons in behavior modification, social and
problem-solving skills, parent training, family therapy, and psychotherapy may
help reduce the chance that at-risk children go on to become adults with
antisocial personality disorder.
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