Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)

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Personality Disorder: Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) Personality disorders can influence social functioning. There are three types of personality disorders; avoidant personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. A person with antisocial personality disorder is also known as a sociopath or psychopath. Psychologist or psychiatrists diagnose many serial killers as possessing antisocial personality disorder. But how do you diagnose an individual with ASPD? What are the symptoms of ASPD? What biological and psychological factors contribute towards having ASPD? How can cultural differences influence the development of ASPD? Many psychologist and psychiatrists have defined and treated those patients who fall under the antisocial personality disorder; however, ASPD is difficult to diagnose and treat but falls under the category of mental illnesses. Defining Antisocial Personality Disorder Antisocial personality disorder is a personality disorder that involves a person and his/her absence of consciously knowing whether he/she is immorally wrongdoing people and can even show it to family and friends. A person affected with ASPD can also be aggressive, merciless, but also show signs of being an intelligent con artist; they can also be involved in criminal activities. A personality disorder appears when there is a dysfunction caused by damage, which then affects the person’s personality. Although there is no true definition of ASPD, people who have ASPD are lawbreakers, ignore or break social rules, and can be manipulative as well as dishonest. People with ASPD also lack remorse for actions and may be involved in criminal activity. As a result, they can be incarcerated, have thoughts of suicide, and undergo substance abuse. Diagnosis of Antisocial Personality Disorder Antisocial personality disorder is difficult to diagnose because very little information is known about the disorder itself. …show more content…
ASPD occurs mainly in men with a 3% percentage rate as opposed to women who have a 1% percentage rate of obtaining the disorder. Lynda Kaylor (1999) stated Individuals under ASPD are categorized by their “egocentricity, shallow effect, manipulativeness, and lack of empathy” (p. 258). As an example, those diagnosed with ASPD are identified because after committing a crime, such as murder, they do not feel remorse and generally do not show emotions towards the crime. To be diagnosed with ASPD, an individual must meet a criterion of 7 factors that include: failure to comply with social norms, dishonesty, carelessness, recklessness, aggression, lack of remorse and irresponsibility. Symptoms of ASPD Symptoms associated with ASPD usually occur at the …show more content…
Other causes also involve chemical toxins, low serotonin levels, focal lesions to the temporal lobe, and serotonergic dysfunction. Not much research has been done with biological causation of ASPD; so, much remains unexplored. Since the gene for substance abuse is also related to ASPD, both are seen simultaneously. In the nurture aspect, childhood treatment affects the brain to respond in certain ways. Despite the consequences of their actions, what individuals with ASPD find rewarding causes a hyper-reactive dopamine reward system, which makes then susceptible to motivate themselves to do something rewarding.
Cultural Differences That Influence ASPD Although ASPD may show up in different cultures it is most prominent in the American society. Since men are more likely diagnosed with ASPD, patriarchal power gives men a sense of ability to be allowed to victimize women and children. Exposure to violence on media, video games, and activities lead up to aggression, which can transfer into ASPD.
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