Antisocial Personality Disorder (Research Paper Sample)

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Antisocial personality disorder
Introduction
Personality disorder is an inner experience of endurance behavior that diverges from the culture or norm. The deviation is often seen in effect, impulse control, cognition, or interpersonal functioning (Perry, Presniak & Olson 32). However, antisocial personality disorder is an endurance mental health disorder where a person’s thinking, view of circumstances, and relations with other is dysfunctional or destructive. People who suffer from antisocial personality disorder disregard the rights, wishes and feelings of other people. They tend to antagonize, manipulate or treat others harshly or with callous indifference. Although some studies have referred to antisocial personality disorder as sociopathy or psychopathy, neither is considered for diagnosis. Studies show that traditional psychopathy conception is characterized by lack of empathy, self-appraisal, and superficial charm (Perry, Presniak & Olson 34-35). These characteristics also differentiate antisocial personality disorder in forensic settings.
Symptoms of Antisocial Personality Disorder
Signs and symptoms of antisocial personality disorder range from mild to severe. These symptoms include:
* Neglect for wrong and right
* Tenacious deceit or lying to exploit other people
* Repeated issues with the law
* Use of wit or charm to manipulate other people for sheer personal pleasure
* Strong sense of superiority and exhibitionism
* Do not learn from past negative consequences of behavior
* Child neglect or abuse
* Consistently violating the rights of others through dishonesty, intimidation, and misrepresentation
* Absence of empathy for other people, with no remorse over hurting other people
* Agitation, hostility, violence, irritability, impulsiveness or aggression
* Abusive, violent or poor relationships
* Highly irresponsible at work or school
* Dangerous, delinquent behaviors (Kernberg & Yeomans 3-5)
Studies show that these antisocial personality disorder symptoms may begin to show in childhood. However, the manifestations of the symptoms occur in the 20s and 30s for the majority of victims. Particular behaviors such as cruelty to animals, anger explosions, poor school performance, bullying, and social isolation may be witnessed among children as early signs of the disorder (Perry, Presniak & Olson 40-42). While antisocial personality disorder is considered an endurance disorder, some symptoms such as destructive and criminal behavior, or drug and alcohol use often decline over time. However, the decline in certain behavior is not already determined as due to awareness of consequences or age (Kernberg & Yeomans 7-8).
When disorder pattern takes place from 15 years old, antisocial personality disorder is often diagnosed. However, at am 15 years old, the disorder often entails symptoms such as failure to focus or plan, noncompliance with the norms, impulsivity, deceitfulness, recklessness, irritability, and aggressiveness, consistent irresponsibility, and lack of remorse. In adulthood, personality disorders are often diagnosed when they describe long-lasting patterns and enduring behavior. However, it is not common to diagnose such disorders in childhood or adolescence due to constant development, personality changes, and maturation (Kernberg & Yeomans 10-11).
DSM-V indicates that people who are younger than 18 years old cannot be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder with certainty. Like other personality disorders, antisocial personality disorder declines with age. Few symptoms are experienced at 40s and 50s (Howard, McCarthy, Huband & Duggan 192-194).
Etiology, Causes of Antisocial Personality Disorder
Individual personality is a combination of one’s thoughts, behaviors and emotions that make them unique. It entails the manner in which people understand, perceive, view, and relate with the society. Personality establishes in childhood and is often shaped by factors such as genetics and environment. Environmental and genetic factors have been cited as the causes of personality-related disorders. Some genes make individuals vulnerable to antisocial personality disorder development. Nevertheless, circumstances and situation in life may also trigger the development of such disorders (Howard, McCarthy, Huband & Duggan 196-197).
Researchers have not ascertained the definite causes of antisocial personality disorder. There have been a number of theories cited to explain the cause. Many researchers concur with the bio-psychosocial model of causation. This model links antisocial personality disorder to genetic, social, biological, and psychological factors. However, there is no one factors that are independently responsible for causing the disorder. The complex combination of these factors is what leads to antisocial personality disorder. Evidence shows that antisocial personality disorder can be passed down to children. Nevertheless, environment has a role to play in the causation (Howard, McCarthy, Huband & Duggan 199-200).
Traumatic events have also been linked to the causes of antisocial personality disorder. Traumatic events lead to disruption in central nervous system, triggering hormone release that alters the pattern of normal development. This disruption leads to aggressiveness and impulsivity. Testosterone plays a role in aggressiveness of the brain. It is counteracted by cortisol and facilitates cognitive control on impulsiveness. Serotonin, neurotransmitter, has also been linked to antisocial personality disorder. Although serotonin levels are associated with the disorder, the decreased function is highly correlated with impulsiveness and aggression (Bagcioglu, Isikli and Demirel 1152-1153).
Some studies have linked antisocial personality disorder with cultural influences. Changes in cultural norms may be associated with the disorder. Cultural norms validate certain behavior and keep individuals in check via external source of control attachment. Such external control can be traditional values, religion or law. Studies show that the erosion of collective traditional standards releases people with antisocial personality disorder. Social reasoning is determined by the culture. Without such acceptable reasoning, people are deemed to have adopted psychotic behavior (Bagcioglu, Isikli and Demirel 1155-1156).
Risk factors of Antisocial Personality Disorder
As discussed above, there are no distinctive factors that cause antisocial personality disorder. Studies show that men are at higher risk of developing antisocial personality disorder than women. Other risk factors include:
* Childhood conduct disorder diagnosis
* History of family members with antisocial personality disorder or mental illness
* Childhood physical, verbal, or sexual abuse
* Childhood messy or unstable family life
* Loss of either or both parents during childhood through traumatic divorce
* Drug or alcohol abuse in parents during childhood (DeShong and Kurtz 148-150)
Environment and genetic factors are known to be the main risk factors of antisocial personality disorder. Evidence shows that individuals with antisocial personality disorder may have had an antisocial or alcoholic parent, and may have been brought up by harsh or inconsistent parenting. People suffering from antisocial personality disorder will be involved in crimes, use drugs, and alcohol, and have high rates of suicide (Jones & Westen 222).
Tests and diagnosis
In order to test and diagnose antisocial personality disorder, doctors run a series of medical and psychological tests to determine and ascertain the presence of the disorder. These tests can include:
* Lab tests: the doctor checks asthyroid function. A complete drug and alcohol screening and blood count are conducted to ascertain other possible problems besides thyroid function (DeShong and Kurtz 144).
* Psychological evaluation: the doctor explores thoughts, feelings, patterns of behavior, family history, and relationships, including personality psychological tests. Questions can be asked concerning symptoms, onset dates, severi...