Antisocial Personality Essays - Psychopathy, Psychiatric Diagnosis

Antisocial Personality The Antisocial Personality is (APD) is a serious disorder that affects many males and cause a great threat to families, friends, and even complete strangers. Most personality disorders may cause an inconvenience to a persons family and friends, but usually harm themselves more than others. Antisocial Personality Disorder contrasts from other personality disorders because the defining trait is a predatory attitude toward other people (Smith, 1999). They have a chronic indifference to and violation of the rights of ones fellow human beings. (Alterman; Cacciola; McDermott; Mulholland; Newman; & Rutherford, 2000). A common tendency of those with APD is criminal actions. These actions can range from stealing of everyday items to rate to murder. It is obvious that APD is a serious disorder with serious consequences. Criminologists need to have an understanding of APD as evidenced in the male offender. Antisocial Personality Disorder affects less than one percent of females and about three percent of males and usually occurs before age 15 (Smith, 1999). Most of these men are involved in some sort of criminal behavior. One heartwrenching characteristic of men with this disorder is that they show no remorse for their victims or anyone involved. Interpersonally, those with APD are gradoise, arrogant, callous, superficial, and manipulative (Alterman et al. 2000). Affectively, those with APD are short-tempered, unable to form strong emotional bonds with others, lacking empathy, guilt, or remorse (Smith 1999). Behaviorally, those with APD are irresponsive, impulsive, and prone to violate social and legal norms and expectations (Smith 1999). DSM III gives a list of criteria for the diagnosis of APD. These five points are as follows: 1. A history of illegal or socially disapproved activity beginning before age 15 and continuing into adulthood. 2. Failure to show constancy and responsibility in work, sexual relationships, parenthood, or financial obligations. 3. Irritability and aggressiveness 4. Reckless and impulsive behavior 5. Disregard for the truth (Smith, 1999) Males with this disorder are also known to lack certain responsibilities and obligations which lead them to do things such as walk out on jobs, wives, children, and creditors (Fukuhara; Kato; & Yoshino, 2000). The sad truth about this disorder is that by puberty these men have already begun a career of antisocial behavior in the form of truancy, delinquency, theft, vandalism, lying, drug abuse, casual sex, running away from home, chronic misbehavior in school. As adults they lead to prostitution, pimping, drug selling, or other crimes. (Alterman et al. 2000). Although many men may show traits of APD, they have to show specific characteristics in order to be diagnosed with the disorder. These specific characteristics include, a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15, must be at least 18 years old, and evidence of conduct disorder with onset before age15. (Smith, 1999). Criminologists must be sure to look at these traits when dealing with men with antisocial personality, and most certainly before letting them back out in the world because of their tendency to have no regret and inability to learn from past experiences. One form of Antisocial Personality Disorder is the common sociopath. The sociopathic personality is the unsocialized personality. It affects mostly young men, but some young women. These people are never adequately socialized during childhood and adolescence (Damasio, 2000). People with this form of disorder have reasonably normal temperaments but are known to be aggressive or fearless. They also posses impulse peculiarities or habit patterns that are traceable to deviant learning. (Damasio, 2000). They are stimulus seekers and pose the greatest problem for parents as children (Damasio, 2000). This disorder is enhanced somewhat from incompetent or indifferent parents. Some other common characteristics of the common sociopath, being the largest genus of antisocial personalities, are a weak and unelaborated conscience, a lack of shame for normal things, a weak future perspective, a disinterest in long term goals, and a pride in rule breaking (Smith, 1999). Along with the category of sociopaths, there are several forms of sociopaths. These forms consist of the Alienated Sociopath, the Aggressive Sociopath, and the Dyssocial Sociopath. The Alienated Sociopath has an undeveloped ability to love or to affiliate with others (Damasio, 2000). The Aggressive Sociopath is usually a muscular and aggressive male who enjoys hurting, frightening, and tyrannizing others. This type of sociopath get a feeling of power and importance. Many men with this type of Sociopathic Personality tend to be the rapists and muggers in the world. They show strong gratification from dominance and control over victims (Smith, 1999). The Dyssocial Sociopath tends to be normal both psychologically and in their temperament.