What Does Antisocial Mean? Understanding Antisocial Personality Disorder Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

What Does Antisocial Mean?

The term "antisocial" is often used to describe someone who prefers to avoid the company of others or who does not care about other people's rights or feelings. However, in psychology and psychiatry, the term "antisocial personality disorder" refers to a specific mental health condition with distinct symptoms and criteria for diagnosis.

Defining Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) as a personality disorder. Personality disorders are conditions marked by enduring, rigid patterns of thinking and behaving that differ significantly from societal norms and expectations.

According to the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, the key features of antisocial personality disorder are:

• Disregard for and violation of others' rights since the age of 15 as indicated by repeatedly performing illegal acts, deceitfulness, impulsivity, aggression, recklessness, irresponsibility and lack of remorse
• Inability to maintain long-term relationships
• Reckless disregard for one's own safety or the safety of others
• Consistent irresponsibility at work or with financial obligations
• Lack of remorse for harmful behaviors or mistreating others

People with ASPD show a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood. They routinely behave irresponsibly and show disregard for normal social norms, laws, and obligations.

Hallmark Behaviors of Antisocial Personality Disorder

Some of the common behaviors demonstrated by people with antisocial personality disorder include:

• Repeated lying, deceitfulness, and manipulation of others for personal gain
• Impulsiveness and failure to plan ahead
• Hostility, significant irritability, aggressiveness and violence
• Blatant disregard for safety of self and others
• Consistent irresponsibility at work and with finances
• Lack of remorse for damaging behavior and mistreating others
• Engaging in illegal activities
• Inability to function as a responsible parent
• Multiple short-term marital relationships
• Failure to sustain long-term relationships

These behaviors lead to significant impairments in interpersonal and occupational functioning. People with severe ASPD often have a criminal history and spend time incarcerated.

Causes and Risk Factors

Researchers believe ASPD develops from a combination of biological, psychological and social risk factors. These include:

• Genetics: ASPD has a genetic component and tends to run in families.
• Brain differences: Abnormalities in brain structure and functioning are associated with ASPD.
• Childhood trauma: Physical or emotional trauma in childhood increases risk.
• Poor parenting: Lack of supervision and discipline is linked to development of ASPD.
• Psychological factors: Lack of emotional awareness, low IQ, poor behavioral control, and learning disorders are associated with ASPD.
• Social factors: Poverty, instability, and antisocial influences also increase risk.

In many cases, people with ASPD experienced childhood abuse, neglect, poverty, family instability and lack of supervision. These factors seem to disrupt normal development of empathy, conscience and impulse control.

Diagnosing Antisocial Personality Disorder

Only trained mental health professionals like psychiatrists, psychologists and clinical social workers can make a valid ASPD diagnosis. They use the DSM-5 criteria to systematically assess a person for the disorder by:

• Taking a detailed history of current symptoms as well as childhood behavior
• Interviewing people close to the individual to corroborate reports of behavior
• Ruling out other possible mental disorders that could account for the symptoms
• Ordering medical tests to check for any related conditions

Diagnoses are usually not made in people under 18 years old because some antisocial behaviors are considered fairly typical of youth rebellion during the teenage years. A diagnosis requires evidence of conduct disorder (a childhood history of antisocial behaviors) before age 15.

Treatment of Antisocial Personality Disorder

Currently, there are no medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat antisocial personality disorder specifically. Treatment relies on psychotherapy and behavioral interventions, usually in inpatient or outpatient mental health programs. Treatments aim to:

• Teach coping strategies to handle stress and manage emotions
• Promote empathy, ethics and conscience development
• Improve problem solving and self-control abilities
• Provide rehabilitation for drug and alcohol dependence
• Use rewards and punishments to modify behaviors
• Teach skills for employment, finances and healthy relationships

Cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy and group contingency management programs have shown some success. However, effects tend to be modest since personality disorders are very difficult to treat.

Family, couples and group therapies are also utilized to improve relationship skills and reinforce prosocial behaviors. Recovery is a long-term process and relapse is common. A key goal is simply reducing antisocial behaviors and subsequent legal problems or incarceration.

Dealing with Someone Who Has ASPD

Coping with a person who has antisocial personality disorder can be very challenging. Some tips include:

• Avoid being manipulated or exploited - set firm boundaries
• Don't take their behaviors personally - it's due to their disorder
• Disengage from conflicts or risky situations right away
• Spend minimal time with them if possible
• Establish strict rules and consequences for unacceptable behavior
• Get professional help if you are being abused physically, emotionally or financially

Loved ones dealing with someone who has ASPD should consider attending support groups or therapy sessions themselves. Setting clear limits on what behaviors you will accept can also minimize the chaos and upheaval in your life.

The Difference Between Antisocial and Asocial

The terms "antisocial" and "asocial" are sometimes used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings:

• Antisocial refers to behaviors that are actively destructive to society and harmful to others, like aggression, deceitfulness and lawbreaking.
• Asocial refers to a lack of interest in socializing or engaging with others. Asocial people prefer solitude but are not necessarily unfriendly or harmful to society.

So someone with antisocial personality disorder exhibits exploitative, dangerous behaviors, while an asocial person simply avoids company and socializing. Asocial is not a mental disorder, just a personality trait.

Asocial vs. Antisocial Personality Traits

Some key differences between asocial and antisocial personality traits:

• Asocial: Introverted, solitary, prefers being alone
• Antisocial: Extroverted, manipulative, destructive to others
• Asocial: Avoids groups but not anti-social
• Antisocial: Actively violates rights of others and norms of society
• Asocial: Indifferent to relationships but not hostile
• Antisocial: Unable to maintain relationships, hostile tendencies
• Asocial: Lacks social skills but not malicious
• Antisocial: Socially adept but deceitful and exploitative

While asocial people simply prefer solitude, antisocial people can charm and manipulate when they want to achieve selfish ends. Their violation of others' rights and lack of remorse for harming people distinguishes them from asocial personalities.

Can Someone Be Both Asocial and Antisocial?

It is possible for someone to exhibit both asocial and antisocial traits. For example, a person may avoid socializing due to social anxiety but also act in manipulative, unethical ways at times. However, the two do not necessarily coincide.

Many criminals who engage in organized crime and manipulate people for profit would be classified as antisocial personalities, even though they can be highly socially adept and outgoing when needed. Conversely, some asocial people such as hermits may withdraw from society but would never harm or exploit others.

Dealing with Antisocial People

Coping with someone who exhibits frequent antisocial behavior can be extremely difficult. Here are some tips that may help:

• Set clear boundaries about acceptable conduct and enforce them consistently. Don't enable bad behavior.
• Avoid revealing too much personal information which could be exploited.
• Be wary of attempts at manipulation through flattery or charisma.
• Don't expect them to understand your feelings or feel empathy.
• Call out lies or destructive behavior directly and calmly.
• Spend as little time with the person as feasible if they stress you.
• Get support from others to validate reality and boost self-esteem.
• Seek counseling or attend Codependents Anonymous meetings.
• Consider cutting off contact if the relationship is abusive.

Although trying to improve an antisocial person rarely succeeds, you can take steps to minimize the harm to yourself and draw boundaries when appropriate. Protecting your physical and emotional well-being may require keeping interactions brief and superficial.

When to Seek Professional Help for Antisocial Behavior

Consult with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other licensed mental health professional if you notice the following signs in yourself or a loved one:

• Disregard for right and wrong from an early age
• Lying, deception and manipulation of others are common
• Aggressive, reckless or violent behavior
• Lack of remorse for damaging behavior
• Irresponsible work habits and finances
• Criminal activity and encounters with law enforcement
• Drug or alcohol addiction
• Abusive relationships and inability to bond with others

Mental health assessment tools and personality tests can help confirm an antisocial personality disorder diagnosis. Early intervention provides the best opportunity to reduce symptoms and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

Treatment is rarely a cure, as personality disorders are difficult to change. But progress is possible through psychotherapy, behavior modification techniques, addiction treatment and other interventions. Medications may help treat accompanying mental health issues like depression as well.

Without treatment, antisocial behavior tends to worsen over time and lead to relationship destruction, unemployment and frequent run-ins with the justice system. Seeking help provides hope for a more positive future, especially when combined with self-care practices like exercise, mindfulness meditation and support groups.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.