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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antisocial personality disorder | 9/9 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisocial_personality_disorder | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T15:21:37.098549+00:00 | kb-cron |
== History == The first version of the DSM in 1952 listed sociopathic personality disturbance. This category was for individuals who were considered "...ill primarily in terms of society and of conformity with the prevailing milieu, and not only in terms of personal discomfort and relations with other individuals." There were four subtypes, referred to as "reactions": antisocial, dyssocial, sexual, and addiction. The antisocial reaction was said to include people who were "always in trouble" and not learning from it, maintaining "no loyalties", frequently callous and lacking responsibility, with an ability to "rationalize" their behavior. The category was described as more specific and limited than the existing concepts of "constitutional psychopathic state" or "psychopathic personality" which had a very broad meaning; the narrower definition was in line with criteria advanced by Hervey M. Cleckley from 1941, while the term sociopathic had been advanced by George Partridge in 1928 when studying the early environmental influence on psychopaths. Partridge discovered the correlation between antisocial psychopathic disorder and parental rejection experienced in early childhood. The DSM-II in 1967 rearranged the categories and "antisocial personality" was now listed as one of ten personality disorders but still described similarly, to be applied to individuals who are: "basically unsocialized", in repeated conflicts with society, incapable of significant loyalty, selfish, irresponsible, unable to feel guilt or learn from prior experiences, and who tend to blame others and rationalize. The manual preface contains "special instructions" including "Antisocial personality should always be specified as mild, moderate, or severe." The DSM-II warned that a history of legal or social offenses was not by itself enough to justify the diagnosis, and that a "group delinquent reaction" of childhood or adolescence or "social maladjustment without manifest psychiatric disorder" should be ruled out first. The dyssocial personality type was relegated in the DSM-II to "dyssocial behavior" for individuals who are predatory and follow more or less criminal pursuits, such as racketeers, dishonest gamblers, prostitutes, and dope peddlers (DSM-I classified this condition as sociopathic personality disorder, dyssocial type). It would later resurface as the name of a diagnosis in the ICD manual produced by the WHO, later spelled dissocial personality disorder and considered approximately equivalent to the ASPD diagnosis. The DSM-III in 1980 included the full term antisocial personality disorder and, as with other disorders, there was now a full checklist of symptoms focused on observable behaviors to enhance consistency in diagnosis between different psychiatrists ('inter-rater reliability'). The ASPD symptom list was based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria developed from the so-called Feighner Criteria from 1972, and in turn largely credited to influential research by sociologist Lee Robins published in 1966 as "Deviant Children Grown Up". However, Robins has previously clarified that while the new criteria of prior childhood conduct problems came from her work, she and co-researcher psychiatrist Patricia O'Neal got the diagnostic criteria they used from Lee's husband the psychiatrist Eli Robins, one of the authors of the Feighner criteria who had been using them as part of diagnostic interviews. The DSM-IV maintained the trend for behavioral antisocial symptoms while noting, "This pattern has also been referred to as psychopathy, sociopathy, or dyssocial personality disorder" and re-including in the 'Associated Features' text summary some of the underlying personality traits from the older diagnoses. The DSM-5 has the same diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder. The Pocket Guide to the DSM-5 Diagnostic Exam suggests that a person with ASPD may present "with psychopathic features" if he or she exhibits "a lack of anxiety or fear and a bold, efficacious interpersonal style".
== Society and culture == The way antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is understood and treated can vary across different cultures. In Western, individualistic societies like the United States and much of Europe, ASPD is usually seen as a problem with personal behavior. It's often linked to criminal actions and people who break social rules. The DSM-5, used for diagnosing mental disorders in the U.S., defines ASPD using traits like lying, impulsiveness, and not caring about other people's rights. Because of this, ASPD is often diagnosed in people who have had problems with the law. In contrast, collectivist cultures such as those in China, Japan, and South Korea tend to focus more on group harmony, family relationships, and social roles. In these cultures, behaviors related to ASPD might not be diagnosed in the same way. Some traits may be viewed as damaging to family or community bonds rather than just being individual problems. Studies suggest that in some Eastern cultures, doctors may diagnose these behaviors differently or less often, especially because of stigma or differences in how mental illness is seen. Treatment also reflects these cultural differences. In the West, therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and legal supervision are commonly used. But in collectivist cultures, treatment may include more family involvement or community-based efforts to help the person fit back into society.
=== Incarceration and prevalence in prisons === Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) in prison populations has been examined in epidemiological research from Ethiopia. A study of incarcerated men found that approximately 31% met criteria for ASPD, a prevalence far higher than that estimated in the general population. The disorder was strongly associated with substance use disorders, particularly alcohol and khat, as well as with other psychosocial vulnerabilities From a biosocial perspective, research such as Moffitt's life-course-persistent framework shows how genetic predispositions interact with childhood adversity to produce long-term antisocial trajectories. This aligns with findings that ASPD among prisoners reflects not only clinical diagnosis but also developmental pathways shaped by poverty, maltreatment, and institutional factors. Drawing on the concept of the "mindful body," ASPD in prisons can be seen as existing simultaneously on several levels: as an individual psychiatric condition, as a reflection of broader social norms about deviance, and as shaped by institutional and political systems such as incarceration.
== See also ==
== References ==
== Further reading ==
== External links ==
DSM-V-TR criteria + additional information DSM-IV-TR Criteria for Antisocial personality disorder Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders (with AMPD definition of ASPD) Psychopathy and Antisocial Personality Disorder: A Case of Diagnostic Confusion