Antisocial Personality Disorder Research Paper

1457 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Genetics vs environment criminal behavior

Antisocial Personality Disorder, Biological or Environmental?
Introduction
Impulsive, manipulative, irritable, irresponsible, self-centered, aggressive and remorseless. These are just a few characteristics that describe a person with antisocial personality disorder. According to Bressert (2016), antisocial personality disorder is a disorder that is characterized by an extensive pattern of disregard and violation of others rights occurring since the age of 15 years. People with antisocial personality disorder do not follow the social norms and their actions tend to be criminal. Symptoms include deceitfulness, impulsivity, reckless disregard, consistent irresponsibility and lack of remorse (Bressert, 2016). The actual cause of antisocial personality …show more content…

There are a few genes that are associated with antisocial behavior and are believed to influence brain structures and functions which in turn predisposes antisocial behavior. The brain structures impaired, resulting from the genes, include the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. These impaired brain structures predispose riotous, antisocial behavior. Environmental influences are linked with antisocial personality disorder. Children with alcoholic parents tend to exhibit antisocial behavior. Alcoholics not only hurt themselves but hurt their families as well. Adopted children have a high risk of developing antisocial personality disorder. They can not connect with their adoptive parents emotionally which in turn may affect their behavior. Physical and emotional child abuse play a significant role in the development of antisocial personality disorder. Abusive behavior can be learned and as a result of that, children may become violent and aggressive adults.
Side A – Biological …show more content…

Genes, such as MAOA, are associated with antisocial behavior and are thought to influence brain structure. MAOA breaks downs serotonin, a neurotransmitter that deals with emotion, which also affect the amygdala, as that brain structure also deals with emotion, and social behavior. Structural and functional brain impairments predispose antisocial behavior. The amygdala is necessitated in fear conditioning and if the fear condition is faulty then there will be a failure in a fully matured conscience which in turn predisposes antisocial behavior. Overall, biological influences, such as genes and structural and functional brain parts, plays an extensive role in antisocial personality

Show More
Related

  • Jeffrey Landrigan Case Study

    999 Words  | 2 Pages

    You may have always wondered if there was a correlation between social behaviour and biological functioning. At the back of my mind I am reminded of the almighty biblical “freewill” as a tool to readjust the resultant antisocial behaviour. With the human species it is difficult to assume 100% causal relationship hence it is safe to look at mediating factors that result in a person's antisocial behaviour. Barnes et al (2016) suggests that if one is to gain a greater understanding of Antisocial behaviours one must look at several domains and they include Evolutionary criminology, Biological criminology, Behaviour genetics, Molecular genetics and Neurocriminology. However, on the predictive side, increasingly, studies are examining whether the

    Read More

  • Soulless Monsters: A Closer Look at Antisocial Personality Disorder.

    1841 Words  | 4 Pages

    The first part of the disorder that needs to be explored is the symptoms. “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 (American Psychiatric Association, 2000).” Some examples of this are that people with this disorder frequently commit acts that could be grounds for arrest (but they do not always get arrested), mutilation of small animals in childhood, or the beating of ones spouse or child. A person with this disorder usually seems to have an artificial charm and can be very manipulative, which may have led to many of the murders in the headlines above. Another key feature of this disorder is that individuals suffering from this disorder tend to be irresponsible, especially in the workplace and finances. The individuals tend to fail at keeping a job for very long and cannot keep track of their spending. Another key feature of the disorder is that the individual usually doesn’t care about the safety of themselves or others. This behavior ...

    Read More

  • Gender Differences in Antisocial Personality Disorder: An Explanation of Theories of Unequal

    1061 Words  | 3 Pages

    Moran, P. "The epidemiology of antisocial personality disorder ." Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. 34.5 (1999): 231-242. Print.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Movie Girl Interrupted

    712 Words  | 2 Pages

    Antisocial Personality Disorder, also informally known as psychopathy/sociopathy, is a disorder where people elicit manipulative behaviors and lack morals. This includes disregard for rules, violence, superficial charm, promiscuity, a superiority complex, and difficulty forming attachments. This is said to be caused by genetics as well as modeling, or watching other people perform this kind of behavior. 3.3% of Americans are diagnosed with Antisocial Personality disorder. It’s 70% more common in males than females and is seen greatly in

    Read More

  • Biological Trait Theory

    186 Words  | 1 Pages

    Biological Trait Theory has been found to have influences in neurophysiology, or the way the brain’s nervous system functions. When the part of the brain that controls fear, aggression, and social interactions, the amygdala, occurs in lower volumes, these traits will appear later in someone’s life. Other research cases have shown that psychopathic behaviors can occur when an individual’s amygdala functions at a lower efficiency or has certain deficits. One study, led by Yu Gao of the University of Pennsylvania, suggests that tendencies that may indict this event can occur before any crimes are committed. Another part of the brain, the anterior cingulate cortex, or the ACC, which plays an important role in controlling behavior and impulses,

    Read More

  • Understanding Antisocial Personality Disorder: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

    920 Words  | 2 Pages

    First, Anti Social Personality Disorder is a mental condition that can cause a person to think and behave in a destructive manner. “Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is characterized by a pattern of socially irresponsible, exploitative, and guiltless behavior. ASPD is associated with co-occurring mental health and addictive disorders and medical comorbidity.” (Black, 2015) People with ASPD have a habit of antagonizing and manipulating others but also have no awareness for what is right and what is wrong. One tends to disregard the feelings and wishes of others. “ASPD typically begins during childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood.” (Kivi, 2012) ASPD usually is noticed around 8 years old, but it is categorized as a conduct disorder. Though children can be treated in what doctors may think is ASPD, children will not be completely diagnosed with the title of ASPD until at least 18 years of age. In time those with ASPD behavior usually end up turning criminal.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Psychopaths

    951 Words  | 2 Pages

    With the a better understanding of the condition psychologists are wanting to know if its genetic. Prior testing has put emphasis on the amygdala. The amygdala is a part of the brain that controls fear, distress, sadness and other major emotions. (Blair 2001). Psychologists believe the impairment of the amygdala is a direct cause of psychopathy as it affects their sense of emotion. With use of volumetr...

    Read More

  • Exploring the Personalities of Convicted Criminals

    1428 Words  | 3 Pages

    Retz, W., Retz-Junginger, P., Supprian, T., Thome, J., & Rösler, M. (2004). Association of serotonin transporter promoter gene polymorphism with violence: relation with personality disorders, impulsivity, and childhood ADHD psychopathology. Behavioral Sciences & The Law, 22(3), 415-425. doi:10.1002/bsl.589

    Read More

  • Antisocial Personality Disorder Essay

    1725 Words  | 4 Pages

    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 ...

    Read More

  • Joe Goldberg Psychology

    1836 Words  | 4 Pages

    D. The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course of schizophrenia or a manic episode. Antisocial Personality Disorder is another personality disorder often misunderstood yet having substantial impacts on one’s life. This is validated, “Antisocial personality disorder may be one of the most misunderstood mental disorders. It is also often undiagnosed and untreated, according to a recent special report by Donald Black, M.D. in Psychiatric News.1 He referred to it as “psychiatry’s forgotten disorder,” noting that few clinicians diagnose or treat it” (Psychiatry, n.d).

    Read More

  • The Mind of a Serial Killer

    2047 Words  | 5 Pages

    Antisocial Personality—Part 1. 2000. Harvard mental Health Letter. 17(6) 1-7. Retrieved by Academic Search Complete. (3826533)

    Read More

  • Nature Vs Nurture In Criminal Behavior

    1610 Words  | 4 Pages

    Jones, mental illnesses have become essential in the diagnosis of individuals with antisocial or criminal behavior. For example, children with oppositional defiance disorder (ODD) display defiance and disobedience toward adult figures, often also showing signs of hostility and vindictiveness and starting to “lie and steal, engage in vandalism, abuse drugs, and show aggression towards peers.” On the other hand, while attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) does not have a distinct link to future violence, those suffering from this personality disorder have the inability to analyze consequences of or learn from previous behaviors, making it more likely for those people to continue their potentially harmful acts without realizing the extent of the damage they cause. In this source, Jones states that ODD and ADHD are both risk factors in developing a even more life-changing affliction, antisocial personality disorder, which is directly connected to the pursuit of criminal actions. While the presence of personality disorders serve as an example of nature’s role in the development of felonious tendencies, others argue that mental predispositions just exist without genetic activation.

    Read More

  • Callous-Disruptive Behavior Essay

    861 Words  | 2 Pages

    They also tend to be less sensitive towards punishment cues, lack remorse and guilt (Frick & Dickens, 2006). Importantly, these temperamental characteristics of the CU traits, according to Frick and White (2008), could provide clues to distinct neural mechanisms which may help explain the genetic diathesis to the antisocial behaviour in this group of young children. For instance, studies have suggested that the specific emotional and cognitive problem in CU traits

    Read More

  • Essay On Antisocial Personality Disorder

    933 Words  | 2 Pages

    Antisocial personality disorder is most commonly diagnosed during the late teens and early twenties. There are a few factors that could possibly be the cause of APD, but there is not a specific one that researchers have come up with. Taking the next step to being diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, mental health professionals evaluate the client in order to find the right treatment for them. Psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, behavior therapy, and medications are all the types of treatments a person with APD may get. More individuals in prison experience antisocial personality disorder and since the majority of people who have APD don’t seek help, those in the prison system get help by a court.

    Read More

  • Robert Worley Crime Analysis

    576 Words  | 2 Pages

    This is believed to be possible since these individuals try to raise their serotonin levels and heart rate by becoming violent. On the other hand, an environment can highly influence the traits. Worley gives an example in which if a child is exposed to toxins, poor prenatal care, poverty or abuse may affect their mind and cause them to be violent. In unraveling juvenile delinquency, research done in 1950 and later re-examined in 1993, a sample of nondelinquent and delinquent boys were studied. The delinquents are more likely to have solid and mesomorphic bodies.

    Read More

More about Antisocial Personality Disorder Research Paper

Open Document