Antisocial Personality Disorder Essay

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Recommended: Inside the mind of a sociopath

Morgan Healy 10845807 PSYC 231-01 Montclair State University Tuesday, 5/06/2014 Research Paper #3 Professor Garett An In Depth Look at the Way Sociopaths Think The term sociopath is defined as a person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior and a lack of conscience. The mind of a sociopath is a very intriguing place. The way they think and act is completely different compared to someone who is not a sociopath. Sociopaths generally suffer from antisocial personality disorder. Here is an inside look at sociopaths, how they think and behave, as well as some history on famous sociopaths that have left their mark in our world and why they do not qualify as psychopaths. Antisocial Personality Disorder is a mental health diagnosis of someone whom exhibits continued deceitfulness, aggressiveness and irritability, reckless disregard for the safety of others or themselves, lack of remorse, high level of impulsiveness, failure to conform to social norms as well as consistent irresponsibility. For one to be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, the individual must exhibit at least three out of the seven signs of antisocial and irresponsible behavior after the age of fifteen (Oltmanns & Emery, 2012). They are extremely egocentric individuals, whom their main goals are derived from power, pleasure or personal gain. People suffering from antisocial personality disorder deal with continued failure to perform responsibilities in their family roles, as well as occupational roles. Violence and conflict is not unusual to them, as well as physical fights. “These people are irritable and aggressive with their spouses and children as well as with people outside of the home. They ... ... middle of paper ... ...suicide. He was without contest incapable of compassion or empathy. Overall, anyone can be a sociopath as long as they display at least three of the seven traits described and exhibit them since the time they were fifteen. Some can be very productive member of society, others however, as proved, cannot and will wreak havoc on society and their victims. Even though they can be violent and manipulative, the way their mind works is fascinating. The ability to pass a lie detector test is baffling due to them not exhibiting signs of stress. It is clear that there is a distinction between antisocial personality disorder and sociopaths. They are very much related and intertwined with each other. It is also clear that people whom are sociopaths think in a very different way compared to the way a normal mind works and that is what makes them so fascinating.

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