Anti-Social Personality Disorder

Anti-Social Personality Disorder
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Anti-Social Personality Disorder
Strayer University
Assignment #3
CRJ105 Online Winter 2012
Felicia McCaw

Anti-Social Personality Disorder
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The Anti-Social Personality Disorder Theory was tested and put in use for diagnosis of clients by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980. It was incorporated into the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) which correlated various concepts of psychopathy, sociopathy and antisocial personality to create a template for diagnosis of those suffering from Anti-Social Personality Disorder.
This disorder is intriguing because it deals with thought patterns, variety of feelings and interactive behaviors of people. These individuals find it hard to fit the norms of society because they are in constant conflict and have high levels of unsocial behavior patterns. Being unable to be loyal, operate properly in groups and lack of social values reflect severely unbalanced social structure within. Because of this negative behavior run is out of control relaying extreme selfishness, uncaring (callous), lack of responsibility, mercurial (impulsiveness), lack of guilt, very low tolerance of frustration levels, incapacity to feel empathy, inflated and arrogant self-appraisal, glib, and superficial charm. Further displacement of emotion on others is constant when the need to rationalize their behavior when exhibiting emotion whether aggressive or not. Individuals with this disorder also exhibit a “pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood as cited by Wikipedia.” Children who develop this disorder are sometimes affected by environmental as well as by genetic influences and in order for an individual to be diagnosed they must be 18 years old.
Anti-Social Personality Disorder has been established as a medical condition that has to be diagnosed, confirmed by a trained mental health specialist., e.g., psychologist or psychiatrist,
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who is able to perceive the malady that is troubling the individual. Even though treatment can be initially sought from a family physician a referral to a mental health professional for diagnosis and treatment has to be done. Medical treatments that are available involve long-term psychotherapy with a therapist that includes prescribed medication to help with specific troubling and debilitating symptoms, self-help strategies and hospitalization.
Patients or individuals receiving treatment for this disorder should probably find themselves confronted with the discovery of the sickness that is troubling them and the reason why their behavior fluctuates so. Once an individual knows the manner of their illness dealing with aspects become easier as therapeutic therapy is given to motivate them to change in a more positive fashion. Therefore, adjusting behavior and changing should cause an inhibitory block of some criminal behavior or actions as time and counseling progresses. Further the more positive reinforcement applied the more apt the change is possible with of course an open attitude and willingness to change. If a person who has been diagnosed with this disorder and the continuation of criminal behavior persists then recommendations should be made for that individual to be imprisoned and treated while incarcerated and allowed to serve full sentence.



 
References

Schmalleger, F.J. (2009) Criminology Today: An Integrative Introduction. (5th Ed.), Ch. 6, Web Extra 6-3, Anti-Social Personality Disorder, Boston: Pearson Learning Solutions.
(Criminology, 2009)
Schmalleger, F.J. (2009) Criminology Today: An Integrative Introduction. (5th Ed.), Ch. 6, Web Extra 6-4, Treatment Options in Antisocial Personality Disorder, Boston: Pearson Learning Solutions.
(Criminology, 2009)
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