Antisocial Personality Disorder
ABSTRACT
This study examines previous research of antisocial personality disorder. Both biological and psychological research was examined. This paper will attempt to identify common environmental factors shared among people with antisocial personality disorder.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Undoubtedly, the first question asked by many upon the gruesome discovery of a murder victim is, “Who could commit such a heinous crime?” Newspaper journalists, broadcast reporters, and the public alike, have asked the question, “What kind of person is capable of taking another person’s life?” A person with Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) is capable of just that and much more. Common careers of people diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder include, sales, management, and business professionals, as well as con artists. This is not an exhaustive list of careers for the antisocial person, as it is common practice for an antisocial person to be a career criminal, and in the most severe cases a serial killer.
APD has been defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association as a person having, “a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others” (1994, p.645). The criteria outlined in the DSM-IV notes that APD behavior is indicated by at least 3 of the following characteristics: 1) failure to conform to social norms, 2) deceitfulness, 3) impulsivity, 4) irritability, 5) reckless disregard for safety of self or others, 6) consistent irresponsibility, and 7) lack of remorse (1994, p. 645).
It is essential to isolate the cause or causes of antisocial behavior because people with APD account for such a large portion of the criminal population. In The Antisocial Personalities, David Lykken notes, “that these criteria identify more than half of the men we refer to as common criminals” (1995, p.5).
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