ANTI-SOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDERSBy: Aaron Yoon & Sydney Jackson

ASPD: What is it?An Anti-Social Personality Disorder (ASPD) is a disorder

characterized by lack of conscience and disregard for the rights of others, as well as a disrespect for the law. It usually develops

by age fifteen, but signs can start much earlier.

(Online Schools, 2012) (Wikipedia, 2012)

More Commonly Known As…Psychopathy and sociopathy are known as subsets of ASPD, but they are very similar in meaning. There are a few key points in the similarities and differences between psychopathy and sociopathy.

(Wikipedia, 2012)

Similarities• Lack of conscience/guilt/remorse/empathy• Can be extremely violent• Can’t be cured• Tend to get involved in criminal action because of disrespect

for the law and others• Deceitful• If not a criminal or outwardly violent person, can be hard to

spot

(Online Schools, 2012) (Ronson, 2011) (The Cassiopaean Experiment, 2012)

Differences• Psychopaths can be manipulative and charming, while

sociopaths lean more towards being socially awkward.• Psychopaths can take months or years planning a crime, while

sociopaths aren’t as dedicated and are more impulsive.• Psychopaths are extremely detailed; sociopaths not so much.

(Online Schools, 2012) (Ronson, 2011) (The Cassiopaean Experiment, 2012)

Early SignsEarly signs of someone having an ASPD are harming animals/siblings/friends, setting fires/playing with fire, showing no remorse for actions, and being harder to control or teach lessons to than most children.

(Online Schools, 2012) (Ronson, 2011)

Brain Development• Research into the brain of psychopathic killers & testimonies

from ASPD sufferers have shown that significant brain damage or defects in brain development, specifically in the cerebral cortex, have led to their disorder. The cerebral cortex is home to emotions like empathy, guilt, remorse, and shame.• Some research, however, claims that sociopathic development

stems more from environmental circumstances than actual brain damage.

(Experience Project, 2009) (Taylor, 2011)

Traits of a Psychopath• Intelligent, cunning, charming, witty, confident, & a magnet for

the opposite sex• Detailed & precise • Can easily fake emotions they lack (guilt, empathy) to win over

someone’s trust or to manipulate them• Narcissistic

(Online Schools, 2012) (Ronson, 2011) (The Cassiopaean Experiment, 2012) (Walter, 2011)

Traits of a Sociopath• Commonly practices (& is good at) lying• Uses others for self-benefit• Impulsive• Like psychopaths, can be more intelligent, witty, and confident

than most people

(Online Schools, 2012) (Ronson, 2011) (The Cassiopaean Experiment, 2012) (Walter, 2011)

The Life of a PsychopathBecause psychopaths are very detailed and organized, they may appear well-rounded and disciplined in school and work. They can be successful in their career because of their confidence and ability to manipulate. They are usually able to get married and start a family as well, while being able to hide their lack of conscience.

(Online Schools, 2012)

The Life of a SociopathSociopaths, however, tend to be more of an outcast. They are more likely to have family problems, and their constant abuse and lies to friends usually ends poorly. Their impulsivity can lead to bad decision-making. Some sociopaths, if they can’t cope with their disorder, can end up homeless.

(Online Schools, 2012)

ASPD in CultureThe general assumption is that people with Antisocial Personality Disorders are terrifying maniacs that are constantly plotting some sort of crime. Whether it be in books, movies, or stories, ASPD have a bad reputation in culture. A lot of this one-sided view comes from Hollywood.

(Ronson, 2011) (The Cassiopaean Experiment, 2012)

ASPD in HollywoodJust like with most things, Hollywood likes to exaggerate and play up reality to make an entertaining film. Most, if not all, psychopaths in the movies are wildly violent and suffer from extreme bloodlust. For example, in the movie The Silence of the Lambs, psychopaths are portrayed as being ruthless cannibals. In real life, however, that is a very rare circumstance.

(Ronson, 2011) (The Cassiopaean Experiment, 2012)

ASPD in Our LivesPsychopaths and sociopaths are more common than one might think. They make up part of our workforce as businessmen, doctors, teachers, and even therapists. The criminals are those who are considered sufferers of ASPD who couldn’t cope with their disorder.

(Walter, 2011)

Works Cited• "Antisocial Personality Disorder." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation,

04 Dec. 2012. Web. 13 Apr. 2012. • Ronson, Jon. The Psychopath Test: A Journey through the Madness

Industry. New York: Riverhead, 2011. Print.• Taylor, Matthew. "Psychopaths: Born Evil or with a Diseased Brain?"

BBC News. BBC, 15 Nov. 2011. Web. 13 Apr. 2012. • "The Psychopath: The Mask of Sanity." The Cassiopaean

Experiment. Web. 12 Apr. 2012. • TwilightPlacebo. "What Causes a True Sociopath? Is There a Cure?"

Experience Project. 3 Aug. 2009. Web. 13 Apr. 2012. • Walter, Laura. "Suspect You Might Be Working for a Psychopath?

Here's How to Cope." ProQuest Career and Technical Education. Penton Business Media, Inc. and Penton Media Inc, 26 Sept. 2011. Web. 12 Apr. 2012.

• "What Is the Difference Between a Psychopath and a Sociopath?" Online Schools. 2012. Web. 13 Apr. 2012.