module 14 pt. 3: antisocial personality

Personality vs. Personality Disorder

Personality disorder involves long-standing patterns of problematic thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that interfere with social or occupational functioning, unlike normal personality which allows for positive social and occupational functioning

Reasons Individuals Seek Treatment

Comorbid psychopathology, relationship issues, vocational problems, crisis situations

Antisocial Personality Disorder Core Features

Law breaking, lying/conning, impulsivity, irritability/aggressiveness, lack of remorse

ASPD Prevalence & Course

2-3% lifetime prevalence, 3x more common in men, 50% of incarcerated men and 20% of incarcerated women, must have history of conduct disorder in adolescence, symptoms tend to decrease with age

Developmental Pathway to ASPD

Oppositional defiant disorder leads to conduct disorder and then ASPD, pathway stronger with comorbid ADHD, but most children with ODD or ADHD do not develop ASPD

Biological Factors in ASPD

Moderate to large heritability, shared genetic risk with substance use, potential gene × environment interactions

Psychological/Environmental Factors in ASPD

Family adversity, harsh/inconsistent parenting, difficult child temperament, poverty, delinquent peers

Psychopathy Traits

Superficial charm, grandiosity, boredom proneness, conning/manipulativeness, lack of remorse

Cleckley’s Features of Psychopathy

Superficial charm, intelligence, absence of delusions, lack of nervousness, untruthfulness, inadequately motivated antisocial behavior, poor judgment, incapacity for love, failure to follow life plan

Successful Psychopathy

Superficially charming, glib, cold, lack of empathy, able to function effectively in society, ~4% of corporate populations

Triarchic Model of Psychopathy

dishibtion, boldness, and meanness

ASPD vs Psychopathy

ASPD emphasizes aggressiveness and unlawful behavior; psychopathy emphasizes fearlessness, glibness, and charm; both share lack of remorse, impulsivity, and lying

Psychopathy Biological Factors

~50% genetic influence, low startle response, reduced amygdala activity, callous-unemotional traits appear in childhood, prenatal stress and harsh discipline may contribute

DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)

Evidence-based treatment for BPD; reduces suicide attempts and hospitalizations; focuses on mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal skills

Cluster B Overview

Dramatic-emotional personality disorders; characterized by unstable relationships and impulsivity; ASPD and BPD well-studied; HPD and NPD less so

John, a 30-year-old man, has a history of repeated legal problems, lies frequently, and shows no remorse for hurting others. In adolescence, he had conduct disorder. What personality disorder does he most likely have?

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Sarah is charming and socially confident, manipulates colleagues for personal gain, and shows no empathy, yet holds a high-level corporate position successfully. Which term best describes her traits?

Psychopathy

A patient with ASPD exhibits impulsivity, lack of remorse, and chronic law-breaking. Which factor likely contributed to the development of these traits?

Harsh and inconsistent parenting, family adversity

Which of the following is NOT part of the triarchic model of psychopathy?

Anxiety

Which is a biological factor associated with psychopathy?

Increased amygdala activity

Which of the following treatments is empirically supported for BPD?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Which statement differentiates ASPD from psychopathy?

ASPD emphasizes unlawful behaviors, psychopathy emphasizes fearlessness and charm

What percentage of incarcerated men meet criteria for ASPD?

50%