Antisocial personality disorder

Antisocial personality disorder (APD) is a personality disorder listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the handbook used to diagnose mental disorders most frequently. APD is generally considered to be the same as, or similar to, the disorder that was previously known as psychopathic or sociopathic personality disorder.

It is characterised by a number of symptoms:

• Failure to conform to social norms or lawful behaviors
• Deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, or conningning others for personal profit or pleasure
• Irresponsibility, impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
• Irritability and aggression, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults
• Reckless disregard for safety of self or others
• Lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another.

Some research has shown that individuals with APD are indifferent to the threat of physical pain, and show no indications of fear when so threatened; this may explain their apparent disregard for the consequences of their actions, and their lack of empathy for the suffering of others.

Although criminal activity is not a necessary requirement for the diagnosis, these individuals often encounter legal difficulties due to their disregard for societal standards and the rights of others. Therefore, many of these individuals can be found in prisons. However, it should be noted that criminal activity does not automatically warrant a diagnosis of APD.

Nor, necessarily, does APD imply that a person is necessarily exhibiting visible criminal behavior. It is hypothesized that many high achievers exhibit APD characteristics.

The recent, controversial science of sociobiology attempts to explain animal and human behavior and social structures, largely in terms of evolutionarily stable strategies. For example, in one well-known 1995 paper by Linda Mealey, chronic antisocial/criminal behavior is explained as a combination of two such strategies.

The DSM-IV estimates that 3% of men and 1% of women have some form of antisocial personality disorder.

Fictional psychopaths

• Hannibal Lecter (Red Dragon, The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal)
• Alex DeLarge (A Clockwork Orange)
• Patrick Bateman (American Psycho)
• Norman Bates (Psycho)
• "The Caller" (Phone Booth)
• Don Logan (Sexy Beast)

Psychopaths in popular fiction and movies generally possess a number of standard characteristics which are not necessarily as common amongst real-life psychopaths. The traditional "Hollywood psychopath" is likely to exhibit some or all of the following traits.

• High intelligence, and a preference for intellectual stimulation (music, fine art etc.)
• A somewhat vain, stylish, almost "cat-like" demeanor.
• Prestige, or a successful career or position.
• A calm, calculating and always-in-control attitude.

It is this last feature which is probably most at odds with the typical real-life psychopath: an individual with APD is much more likely to be impulsive, disorganised and short-tempered rather than the smooth-talking, self-disciplined character portrayed by Anthony Hopkins or Kiefer Sutherland.

In popular culture, "psychopath" is often used interchangeably with "serial killer" (such as the characters in slasher films) though the terms are not synonymous.

External links

• Definition from PsychCentral.com
• Another opinion
• The Sociobiology of Sociopathy, Mealey, 1995
• Antisocial personality disorders frequent in 'core' STI transmitters, says US study
• Article: Psychopath in a suit
• USC Study Finds "Faulty Wiring" In Psychopaths