Antisocial Personality Symptoms

Charles Manson; Ted Bundy; David Berkowitz, aka the Son of Sam -- all of these men suffered from antisocial personality disorder, or ASPD. Although people generally think this disorder defines the criminal personality type, not all adults who suffer from ASPD have been to prison or even committed a crime.

Pervasive Pattern

• Juvenile delinquency is frequently in the background of adults with ASPD.

  To be diagnosed with ASPD, an adult must have a pattern of pattern of maladjusted, self-centered and harmful behaviors -- behaviors that contradict society's accepted norms. This pattern typically begins in childhood or adolescence, persisting throughout adulthood.

Impulsivity

• Adults with ASPD may have lengthy adult prison records.

  Adults with ASPD are very impulsive and do not plan for the future. They may consider themselves superior to others and that ordinary rules do not apply to them. Some individuals may have a well-developed pattern of disruptive behaviors, but have never been arrested, however, so lack of a criminal history is not necessarily a sign that a person does not have ASPD.

Lying

• Adults with ASPD take pride in their ability to con others.

  Adults with ASPS are pathological liars, lying not only when advantageous, but also just for the sport of it. They may describe themselves as being charming sweet talkers, who can con anyone. They will talk about swindling others with pride as deceitfulness is seen as as a sign of cleverness, rather than an amoral act.

Aggressive and Cruel Behaviors

• Adults with ASPD may be domestic abusers.

  Often, adults with ASPD have a lengthy history of aggressive behaviors, dating back to childhood. These behaviors may begin with torturing or hurting the family pet, siblings or classmates. Later on, bar fights and domestic abuse become notable. A person with this disorder may lash out at someone, even if the person is smaller and not likely to prevail. Fighting is seen as a legitimate means of problem solving.

Irresponsibility

• Adults with ASPD frequently get into conflicts at work that can quickly escalate.

  Adults with ASPD may not even want a job and may believe people working for a living are gullible suckers. When circumstances force them to engage employment, they tend to get fired, steal from their employers or become involved in physical confrontations at work. Such person are typically described as lazy, late and sloppy in their work habits. They may have had many different children with many different people and do not contribute in a meaningful way to the support of those children.

Lacking Remorse

• Adults with ASPD may think other people's misfortune is funny.

  Adults with ASPD have a conspicuous lack of empathy for others. Adults with ASPD are genuinely confounded when you ask them how others are affected by their behavior, because they do not see this factor as relevant. Particularly sophisticated individuals will fake having empathy to assimilate with those around them.