...Antisocial personality disorder—Also referred to as sociopaths, this is a disorder characterized by a disregard for the rights and feelings of others. Assessment will onset at about 15 years of age. There will be a childhood history of lying, staling, fighting, truancy and disregard of authority. Adolescent history may include aggressive sexual behavior, excessive use of alcohol and drug use. Adulthood may be marked by continued behavioral problems combined with poor work performance, parenting problems and frequent problems with law enforcement. A person with this disorder is mostly concerned with gaining personal power or pleasure and will exploit others to suit their needs and will have a profound lack of empathy. There is no relationship...
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...Antisocial Personality Disorder According to the DSM-14-TR, Antisocial personality disorder can be defined as, a pervasive pattern of disregard and violation of the rights of other individuals starting from childhood or adolescence and continues through adulthood. A person with Antisocial Personality Disorder usually tends to have no remorse for criminal or disorderly actions, may be deceitful, often lie, steal, and often violate rules that may result in arrest. People with Antisocial Personality Disorder may also have problems with irresponsibility with holding a job, having financial difficulties, properly caring for a child, or neglecting to keep up with child support. “Prevalence of ASPD In community samples are about 3 percent in males and only 1 percent in females, prevalence estimates within clinical settings have varied from 3 percent to 30 percent, depending on predominant characteristics of the sampled population” (DSM-IV-TR). Although higher prevalence rates occur with substance abusers, people admitted with a substance related disorder cannot be diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder unless the signs of it were present as a child. If the substance abuse also occurred during childhood, then both substance abuse disorder and Antisocial personality disorder should be diagnosed (DSM-IV-TR). A study performed by Catherine F. Lewis, M.D., examined the relationship between violent behavior, substance abuse and dependence in 41 incarcerated women diagnosed...
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...Antisocial Personality Disorder Samantha D. Pearson Jefferson Davis Community College September 30, 2015 Introduction Antisocial personality disorder, also known as ASPD, is a type of chronic mental condition in which a person's ways of thinking, perceiving situations and relating to others are dysfunctional — and destructive. ("Antisocial Personality Disorder." - Mayo Clinic. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.) People with antisocial personality disorder typically have no regard for right and wrong and often disregard the rights, wishes and feelings of others. ("Antisocial Personality Disorder." - Mayo Clinic. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.) There are 200,000 to 3 million ASPD cases documented in the US every year. (Web. 29 Sept. 2015.)...
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...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...
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...Running head: Research Paper 1 Research Paper: Research of Articles’ Literature, Methods & Findings Running head: Research Paper 2 Research Paper: Research of Articles’ Literature, Methods & Findings My research consisted of the critique of 3 articles. Within my paper, I will summarize, critique, and capture implications of the articles. The first article is Assessing Personality in the DSM-5: The Utility of Bipolar Constructs. The second is Predicting the Behavior of Offenders with Personality Disorder: Issues for Investigative Psychology. The last article is Interactions between Bipolar Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder in Trait Impulsivity and Severity of Illness. All articles have something to do with personality disorders. The article Assessing Personality in the DSM-5: The utility of Bipolar Constructs was written by Douglas B. Samuel. The 8 page article was published by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. This article was about the DSM-5 labeling the personality disorders as categorical constructs. Most of the categorical labels can provide relatively straightforward and rapid communication about a person. These types of categories will lead to more stimulating research and generate specific treatment recommendations. There are some disadvantages to the categorical approach including the excessive diagnostic co occurrence, inadequate coverage, excessive heterogeneity within the categories, lack of meaningful or well-validated boundary...
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...and Similarities in Generalized Characteristic Traits among Genders: The Sociopath and Psychopath by Evelyn J. Dotson MS, University of Phoenix, 2015 Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Psychology University of Phoenix March, 2015 Abstract Psychopathic and sociopathic general characteristic traits are found in both genders in various populations. More research on the general characteristic traits of females is needed. Research for the female populations will give professionals information about the differences displayed between genders. Different applied sciences will also further their knowledge in treatment options for either tendency. The study used explored if any differences existed between genders with intensified levels of psychopathic traits in regard to psychopathy factor scores. The sample consisted of 2,500 people of both genders (52.6% women) (M=22.15; SD=1.38) from the generalized population, aged 20-24. Results displayed women with psychopathic personality traits had significantly higher levels of behavioral tendencies than men of the same. The genders did display a difference in aggressive behavior. The men showed a significant amount of aggressive behaviors compared to the women. The gender differences displayed in the seven psychopathic features show the variations needed for treatment options. Differences and Similarities in Generalized Characteristic Traits among Genders: The...
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...James Raley PSY 101 Research Paper Psychopaths (Antisocial personality disorder) Psychopathy was one of the first personality disorders to be recognized by psychiatry. Today this disorder is known as antisocial personality disorder. Those diagnosed with the disorder often share a multitude of similar yet non-universal characteristics. These characteristics may include: superficial charm; egocentricity; need for stimulation; irresponsibility; impulsiveness; shallow emotions, lack of empathy, guilt, or remorse; pathological lying; and above average intelligence like serial-killers Dennis Radar and Ted Bundy. When encountered, the typical psychopath will blend in and seem some-what normal. They will have the tendency to be smooth, inviting, interesting, and educated. "More than the average person, he is likely to seem free of social or emotional impediments, from the minor distortions, peculiarities, and awkwardness so common even among the successful" (1). Despite their apparently smooth and attractive exteriors, Psychopaths are riddled with complex and often terrifying behavioral abnormalities. For instance, Psychopaths rarely fulfill or honor obligations and commitments. Their irresponsibility stems into various stages of their life, including work and finances. They frequently fail to pay off loans and bills and have a tendency to perform assignments in a carefree demeanor. Psychopaths have difficulty developing...
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...Challenges in identifying and treating personality disorders: Change the catalyst of research! Personality disorders are psychiatric disorders characterized by chronic patterns of inner experience and behavior that are inflexible and present across a broad range of situations. They have a marked impact on patients’ interpersonal relationships, and social and occupational functioning, and can lead to problematic interactions in the medical setting (Ward, 2004). Personality disorders come in many forms of behaviors: from antisocial, narcissistic, avoidant and extreme and they are often regarded as conditions that are difficult to identify and treat effectiveness. As a result, there are many reasons for the incidence of persons with this behavior ceasing treatment programs prior to its completion. Dingfelder (2004) suggests that people with borderline personality disorders quit treatment programs about 70 percent of the time. This paper seeks to identify primary sources that provide research-based explanations of why struggles in effectiveness in the identification and treatment of personality disorders exist. It will also provide a proposal for a new research study that will help provide more information about increasing the effectiveness of treatment of such disorders. Effective Treatments from Research Personality disorders, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders are categorized into three clusters based on their primary...
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...Psychological Disorders Writing Assignment The purpose of this project is to give you experience in making clinical diagnoses and to attempt to make sense of the many psychological disorders that are out there. You have been assigned to watch a popular movie. I decided to give this to you before Christmas Break because you will have at least 2 weeks to think of the movies form the list and watch one or two or whatever number you want. Pretend that you are a clinical psychologist, and the character in the movie has come in to your office. There is one central character in the movie that has symptoms of a psychological disorder (sometimes there may be more than one character; I have given you the character with the most obvious symptoms). In your paper, you should give a brief description of the character. Then, you should answer the following: o Identify the diagnosis that you would make of the character. • You should back up your diagnosis with the relevant symptoms displayed by the character (in other words, explain why did you make the diagnosis that you did). Refer to the movie to illustrate the symptoms that the character demonstrates. • Discuss all the possible symptoms of the disorder; does the client show all the possible symptoms, or only some of the possible symptoms of the disorder? • In some cases, the character may be lying, and does not really have a disorder. For example, the person may be faking the disorder to avoid prosecution...
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...Jodi Arias Articles These are some of the essays that I have written about the Jodi Arias trial. Many more to come. JODI ARIAS TRIAL: SECOND EXPERT WITNESS, ALYCE LAVIOLETTE UNDER SCRUTINY Alyce LaViolette is the second expert witness called by the defense in the Jodi Arias trial. Ms. LaViolette has a Masters degree and has worked since the 1970s in the field of domestic violence. She has been described by some as being a man hater. For instance, attorney and radio host Jenny Hutt, in her appearance on the Dr. Drew show, referred to Ms. LaViolette’s testimony in the following way: “I feel like she`s just a man hater…she`s clearly prejudicial, and she just reads that she doesn`t like men.” This criticism, valid or invalid, is also present in professional critiques, couched using terms such as “feminist perspective” and even extends to the personal reviews that can be found on Amazon.com. One reviewer, asked the question “did she ever meet a man who was not an abuser?” Obviously, the impression of Ms. LaViolette, as being a man hater, is legitimate in the minds of many people. She has left that impression with many readers and viewers of her work. This is not to say that Ms. LaViolette is a man hater, just because a number of people think her so. That would be unfair. It would be fair to say this. Her behavior, her writing, her court testimony, has left a significant number of people with the impression that she is a man hater. I don’t know if she is a man...
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...Criminal Behavior Lorenzo Reid Virginia College Online Abstract The following paper will address the different areas of the Psychological and Psychiatric Foundations of Criminal Behavior. Within this paper, every aspect from theories to what the law states when it comes to this state will be addressed. Criminal Behavior Doctor Leon Eisenberg once stated, "...persons who are seriously mentally ill are far more likely to be the victims of violence than its initiators." (Campbell) Yet how true is that? When it comes to mental illness, there have been several violent crimes that have been committed, and been blamed on mental illness. There are several shows for entertainment such as the show “Criminal Minds”, that attempts to bring a reality and understanding to mental illness and criminal behavior. This show gives a reality to the fact that people can be simply mentally ill and not simply criminals. In early society times, people simply did not take mental illness into account. It was thought that people, regardless of their mental state, should be accountable for their actions. Yet, in today’s society, this is not the case. Due to research and a better developed country, citizens are given an opportunity to show that their mental state was not steady when they committed a crime. So, what is it then, which motivated a person to kill or maim another? How can a person kill someone else, or a numerous amount of people, with no remorse? These questions and several...
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...Borderline Personality Disorder Diagnosis, criteria, symptoms Personality disorders are estimated to affect about ten to twenty percent of the general population (Sadock & Sadock 2007). Individuals with borderline personality disorders fall under the category of Cluster B personality disorders, which are characterized by dramatic, impulsive, and erratic features, which include narcissistic, antisocial, borderline, and dramatic personality disorders. (Sadock & Sadock 2007) According to the DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic for Borderline Personality Disorder, the criteria for Borderline Personality is “A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following: 1. 1.Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment 2. A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by 3. alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation 4. identity disturbance, markedly and persistently unstable self image or sense of self 5. impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging 6. recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self mutilating...
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...Wednesday, April 9, 2014 PSY/460 - WEEK ONE SHORT ANSWER Environmental psychology is likely to be a new field for you, although many of the concepts are probably familiar. Provide your own definition of the discipline. Discuss an important milestone or influence in the development of environmental psychology and provide reasoning as to why you chose this one. Environmental psychology is a branch of psychology that studies how the environment affects individuals, and vice-verse. There is a reciprocal relationship between people and the environment they live in, as they both affect each other. The relationship between nature and the human species has been an object of study for many decades, and understanding this relationship can help individuals learn about the importance of conserving and maintaining the world that supports them (Steg, 2013). The environment provides humans with food, water, air, and all the other necessities individuals need to survive, even if, in a world dominated by technology and progress, it is easy to forget that one way or another, everything we need to survive comes from the earth. Environmental psychology focuses not only on the physical influences humans and environment have on each other, but also in which ways nature affects individuals’ behaviors. One important aspect of this discipline is the belief that people’s behaviors are not determined solely by the environment (Steg, 2013). Most psychologists in this area believe in free will...
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...Programmatic Assessment: Treatment of Conduct Disorder Jasmine Collins CCMH 551 October 30, 2014 Jane Winslow MA LMFT Programmatic Assessment: Treatment of Conduct Disorder The author currently works with adolescents in a level 14, locked down group home facility. Her experience has been working with clients with various mental illnesses and the majority of the population display danger to self and danger to others behaviors. Many of her clients display conduct disorders as a result of their severe neglect and abuse they suffered as a child. Her clients who have Conduct Disorders do not respect authority, have little regard for others, and breaks major rules; they also exhibit aggressive behaviors that threaten physical violence, theft, property damage, or attempting to run away. Often times their continued AWOL behaviors and being a flight risk is what gets them place in a level 14 facility. A client with a Conduct Disorder is often times resentful and short-tempered. The basis of Conduct Disorder is a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. Treatment plans should include behavior therapy with the client, family therapy, if they family is involved and medication support from a psychiatrist. In this paper the author will discuss treatment and intervention strategies to work with people who have this disorder. In addition, the author will describe the theoretical basis for the approaches, present how the counselor would work individually with...
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...been multiple research studies that have all come to the same conclusion. Adrian Rane, a well-known bio-psychologist, once stated that “despite strong resistance in many quarters, there is now little scientific doubt that genes play a significant role in antisocial behavior.” Therefore, it is at the moment of conception that genetics begin to play a role in the development of traits that have the ability to lead an individual to choose to engage in criminal behavior. “Some genes are expressed or turned on (or not) because of physical, social, and cultural factors in the environment; and some genes—for example, those that influence difficult temperament, impulsivity, novelty seeking, and lack of empathy—predispose people to be exposed to environmental risks.” (Kaiser & Rasminsky, 2010). Children learn from their both their parents and their environment. An example of this would be a child that has been raised in a home where violence is common. That particular child has a much higher chance at being impulsive and expressing emotions positively. Another perfect example would be addiction. Addiction is a biological trait that is passed on through generations. It not only possible for a child to be born with an addiction to illegal substances, but also they have a higher chance of becoming addicted when they are exposed to a substance later in life. So, there is a high probability that if they carried a gene that it would predispose them to an addictive personality, and once exposed...
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