Antisocial Personality Disorder
• Antisocial personality disorder describes people
with a pattern of behavior that is:
– aggressive
– reckless
– impulsive, and often
– criminal
• Some people with APD have abnormalities in the
prefrontal cortex.
• These abnormalities can be a result of:
– genetics
– disease, or
– physical abuse
• Genes may affect the brain, predisposing a child
to rule-breaking and violent behavior.
• However, many environmental influences can:
– disrupt that pathway and
– alter the ways that genes express themselves
• The term psychopath describes people who are:
– heartless
– utterly lack conscience
– unable to feel normal emotions
• They are incapable of:
– remorse
– fear of punishment
– shame
– guilt
– empathy for those they hurt
• Psychopathy is not the same as being violent and
sadistic.
• It is not the same as being “psychotic.”
• The belief that psychopaths are “born, not made,”
appears to be wrong.
• The belief that “psychopaths cannot change their
spots” is, surprisingly, also wrong.
• Psychopathy involves a cluster of characteristics.
• Psychopaths are fearless, unconcerned about
being caught and punished for their misdeeds.
– high tolerance for danger, risk, thrill-seeking
• They lack empathy for others and remorse for
their harmful acts. They also:
– behave irresponsibly
– treat animals and other people with great cruelty
• Antisocial personality disorder describes people
with a pattern of behavior that is:
– aggressive
– reckless
– impulsive, and often
– criminal
• Some people with APD have abnormalities in the
prefrontal cortex.
• These abnormalities can be a result of:
– genetics
– disease, or
– physical abuse
• Genes may affect the brain, predisposing a child
to rule-breaking and violent behavior.
• However, many environmental influences can:
– disrupt that pathway and
– alter the ways that genes express themselves
• The term psychopath describes people who are:
– heartless
– utterly lack conscience
– unable to feel normal emotions
• They are incapable of:
– remorse
– fear of punishment
– shame
– guilt
– empathy for those they hurt
• Psychopathy is not the same as being violent and
sadistic.
• It is not the same as being “psychotic.”
• The belief that psychopaths are “born, not made,”
appears to be wrong.
• The belief that “psychopaths cannot change their
spots” is, surprisingly, also wrong.
• Psychopathy involves a cluster of characteristics.
• Psychopaths are fearless, unconcerned about
being caught and punished for their misdeeds.
– high tolerance for danger, risk, thrill-seeking
• They lack empathy for others and remorse for
their harmful acts. They also:
– behave irresponsibly
– treat animals and other people with great cruelty
