From: Madame Ubiquitous (eileen.krasowski@yale.edu)
Date: Sun Oct 17 1999 - 01:04:33 MDT
FYI...
>From the APA DSM IV
Antisocial Personality
Disorder
Diagnostic Features
The essential feature of Antisocial
Personality Disorder is a pervasive
pattern of disregard for, and violation
of, the rights of others that begins in
childhood or early adolescence and
continues into adulthood.
This pattern has also been referred to
as psychopathy, sociopathy, or
dyssocial personality disorder. Because
deceit and manipulation are central
features of Antisocial Personality
Disorder, it may be especially helpful to
integrate information acquired from
systematic clinical assessment with
information collected from collateral
sources.
For this diagnosis to be given, the
individual must be at least age 18 years
and must have had a history of some
symptoms of Conduct Disorder before
age 15 years. Conduct Disorder
involves a repetitive and persistent
pattern of behaviour in which the basic
rights of others or major
age-appropriate societal norms or rules
are violated. The specific behaviours
characteristic of Conduct Disorder fall
into one of four categories: aggression
to people and animals, destruction of
property, deceitfulness or theft, or
serious violation of rules.
The pattern of antisocial behaviour
continues into adulthood. Individuals
with Antisocial Personality Disorder fail
to conform to social norms with respect
to lawful behaviour. They may
repeatedly perform acts that are
grounds for arrest (whether they are
arrested or not), such as destroying
property, harassing others, stealing, or
pursuing illegal occupations. Persons
with this disorder disregard the wishes,
rights, or feelings of others. They are
frequently deceitful and manipulative in
order to gain personal profit or
pleasure, (e.g., to obtain money, sex,
or power). They may repeatedly lie,
use an alias, con others, or malinger. A
pattern of impulsivity may be
manifested by a failure to plan ahead.
Decisions are made on the spur of the
moment, without forethought, and
without consideration for the
consequences to self or others; this
may lead to sudden changes of jobs,
residences, or relationships. Individuals
with Antisocial Personality Disorder
tend to be irritable and aggressive and
may repeatedly get into physical fights
or commit acts of physical assault
(including spouse beating or child
beating). Aggressive acts that are
required to defend oneself or someone
else are not considered to be evidence
for this item. These individuals also
display a reckless disregard for the
safety of themselves or others. This
may be evidenced in their driving
behaviour (recurrent speeding, driving
while intoxicated, multiple accidents).
They may engage in sexual behaviour
or substance use that has a high risk for
harmful consequences. They may
neglect or fail to care for a child in a
way that puts the child in danger.
Individuals with Antisocial Personality
Disorder also tend to be consistently
and extremely irresponsible.
Irresponsible work behaviour may be
indicated by significant periods of
unemployment despite available job
opportunities, or by abandonment of
several jobs without a realistic plan for
getting another job. There may also be
a pattern of repeated absences from
work that are not explained by illness
either in themselves or in their family.
Financial irresponsibility is indicated by
acts such as defaulting on debts, failing
to provide child support, or failing to
support other dependents on a regular
basis. Individuals with Antisocial
Personality Disorder show little
remorse for the consequences of their
acts. They may be indifferent to, or
provide a superficial rationalization for,
having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from
someone (e.g., "life's unfair,' 'losers
deserve to lose," or "he had it coming
anyway"). These individuals may blame
the victims for being foolish, helpless,
or deserving their fate; they may
minimize the harmful consequences of
their actions; or they may simply
indicate complete indifference. They
generally fail to compensate or make
amends for their behaviour. They may
believe that everyone is out to "help
number one" and that one should stop
at nothing to avoid being pushed
around.
Basically, this disorder is not just about the subject rejecting societal
morality systems in favor of one's own, but rather a demonstrably harmful
disregard for the welfare of others and of him/herself. Such a person, I
would argue, is in fact incapable of constructing a coherent moral system of
his/her own. Moral systems are formed out of a system of actions and
consequences, and what actions are appropriate for a situation based on the
results. Those suffering from antisocial personality disorder are not
capable of putting any meaning to the consequences of their actions to
themselves or others.
Reportedly, the major theory as to the genesis of the disorder is based on
inconsistent, abusive and/or negligent parenting. Those with the disorder
are often themselves abusive and negligent towards their own children. Thus
creating the vicious cycle.
Some people just shouldn't have kids.
Eileen C. Krasowski
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