Antisocial Personality
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Antisocial Personality

(previously called psychopathic or sociopathic):

Definition:

Persons with this personality disorder callously disregard the rights and feelings of others. They exploit others for materialistic gain or personal gratification (unlike narcissistic persons, who exploit others because they think their superiority justifies it). Characteristically, they act out their conflicts in impulsive and irresponsible ways, sometimes with hostility and serious violence. They tolerate frustration poorly. Often they do not anticipate the negative consequences of their antisocial behaviors and typically do not feel remorse or guilt afterward. Many of them have a well-developed capacity for glibly rationalizing their behavior or for blaming it on others. Dishonesty and deceit permeate their relationships. Punishment rarely modifies their behavior or improves their judgment and foresight; it  usually confirms their harshly unsentimental view of the world. Antisocial personality disorder is often associated with alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, promiscuity, failure in one's occupation, frequent relocation, and imprisonment. In Western culture,
more men have this personality disorder than women, and more women have a borderline personality; these two disorders have much in common. In the families of patients with both personality patterns, the prevalence of antisocial relatives, substance abuse, divorces, and childhood abuse is high. Often, the patient's parents have a poor relationship, and the patient was severely emotionally deprived in his formative years. Life expectancy is decreased, but among survivors, the disorder tends to diminish or stabilize with age.

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