300313537-Antisocial Personality Disorder
From PsychWiki - A Collaborative Psychology Wiki
Section 1
Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) has the following definition according to Greenall (2007), “a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others since a very young age, a lack of remorse”, the individual fails to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors, deceitfulness, impulsivity or failure to plan ahead, aggressiveness and irritability, needs to be at least 18 years to be technically be diagnose with ASPD, and a history of Conduct Disorder (CD) before age of 15. This Conduct Disorder behavior is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM), according to Burnette and Newman ( 2005), a repetitive and persistent pattern of violating rules, social norms and rights of others need to be consistent to be diagnosed with ASPD.
In order for an adult to be diagnosed with ASPD an early behavior of CD or Conduct Disorder is essential in the diagnosis of ASPD. First, the criteria for CD, is aggressive conduct which threaten or cause physical harm. Second, is a destructive conduct, which means a pattern to destruct property is evident. Third, Deceitfulness or theft, which is the lack of being honest, a repeated lying pattern and fourth, serious violations of rules, the inability to respect laws (Bunette & Newman, 2005). This disruptive behavior has been studied by researchers and their findings indicate that Antisocial Personality Disorder often begins in childhood, before the age at which someone can be prosecuted (Rutter,Giller & Hagell 2005).
Antisocial Personality Disorder is more prominent with men than women. Approximately 70% to 80% of males in prison have been diagnosed with ASPD ( In Brunnett & Newman, 2005). There are many other factors that contribute to the ASPD. For example, alcohol has been proven to increase the severity of the aggressive behavior. Leonard and Birchler (2005) conducted a study and found that drinking alcohol was more strongly associated with a likelihood of severe intimate partner violence among men with ASPD compared with those without ASPD who also drank.
According to Westermeyes & Thuras (2005), tobacco and most illicit drugs is greater used by people diagnosed with ASPD. Family and legal problems remained strongly associated with ASPD. Sexual offending and antisocial personality are also high correlated ( Greenall 2007). This disorder of the individual with an absence of guilt, remorse, and rights for others will affect his/her friends, family members and others who are exploited, mistreated and victimized (Widiger, Corbitt & Millow). This disorder has clear evidences of violent behavior from a very young age.
Section 2
John Floyd Thomas Jr., 72 years old, born in Los Angeles. Is charged with murdering a 68 year old woman in the Mid- Wilshire area in 1972, and a 67 year old women in Westchester in 1976. Thomas is suspected in the sexual assault of as many as 30 women during the 70’s and 80’s. DNA tied Thomas to these murders and three other homicides. Authorities are continuing to analyze evidence in 25 other killings. He is known as the “Westside Rapist”. He would slip into homes from Hollywood to Inglewood at night.
He would first raped his victims and them squeezed their heads until they died. Police claim he placed pillows over their faces. At least twenty women survived the attacks. Thomas spend six years in state prison in 1957 for rape attempt. Two parole violations send him back. He joined the U.S. Air force and was dishonorable discharged in 1956. His aunt and god mother raised him after his mother died when he was 12 years of age.
Section 3
Antisocial Personality Disorder is well applied to John Thomas. First of all, this man exhibits a behavior of repeatedly violent crimes. A disregard for and violation of the rights of others. He has been charged for two murders but investigations continue on 25 other killings. Thomas doesn’t show remorse. On the contrary, there is a lack of remorse. He was first charged with an attempt of rape and was lock up for six years. After the six years, he was discharged but was send back to jail because he violated parole. Second, he demonstrates very clearly his destructive conduct, serious violations of rules, and overall aggressive conduct which threatens or causes harms. He killed his victims by first rapping them, then squeezing their head. His last victim took place in Pasadena, in the year 1980.
Third, his conduct disorder was probably seen in his adolescent years when he lost his mother at age twelve ( the news did not revealed anything about his teen years). When he was twenty he was dishonorably discharged from the Air Force. This information tells us that since young adulthood he was in violations of rules. We can also see how ASPD has a high correlation with sexual offenders. Greenall (2007) states that research suggest that possessing an ASPD is without doubt a factor of criminality, including sexual offending. Definitely, Thomas qualifies under the definitions of ASPD. His failure to conform to the social norms, after his attempt of rape and been in jail for several years. His deceitfulness, and most of all his aggressiveness. A person like Thomas probably had a criminal record before age 18. ( I am speculating)
Section 4
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold originated the massacre in Littleton, Colorado. They killed 13 people and wounded 24 at Columbine High School on April 20th , 1999. After killing of the innocent victims they turn around and killed themselves. Apparently they had planned this event with prior anticipation. They build bombs, purchased guns, and had a well developed plan in place. These teenagers did not have any apparent problems. They were good students, and had friends. This was at least what they wanted everyone to believe. Does Antisocial Personality Disorder applies to this case? The article on USA Today states that Harris and Kledbold were on probation after having been arrested in January of 1998, for breaking into a van and stealing electronics. This show early deceitfulness or theft, not very honest individuals, which is part of the criteria of Conduct Disorder. Of course this is only one incident and really might not prove much, but considering that they were building bombs for a long time does tells us that they were in serious violation of norms. A person does not decide to build bombs for pleasure, at least not in our culture. Trying to buy guns just indicates to us that they were involved in destructive conduct . These are various criteria for Conduct Disorder (CD). We cannot actually diagnosed these boys with ASPD because it is technically if a person is 18 years and older. They are in the category of CD, and if they had escaped or lived longer, they would have been diagnosed with ASPD at age of 18. Only a person with a lack of remorse is capable of planning and taking into action this tragedy.
References
Burnette, M. L., & Newman, D. L. (2005). The natural history of conduct disorder symptoms in Female inmates: On the predictive utility of the syndrome in severely antisocial women. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 75 (3), 421-430.
Fals-Stewart, W., Leonard, K. E., & Birchler, G. R. ( 2005). The moderating effects of antisocial personality disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73 (2), 239-248.
Greenall, P. V. (2007). Sexual offending and antisocial personality: exploring the link. The British Journal of Forensic Practice, 9 (3) 24-30.
Rutter, M., Giller, H., & Hagell, A. (1998). Antisocial behavior by young people (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Westermeyer, J., & Thuras, P. (2005). Association of antisocial personality disorder and substance disorder morbidity in a clinical sample. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse,31 (1), 93.
Widiger, T. A., Corbitt, E. M., & Millow, T. (2008). Antisocial personality disorder. American Psychiatric Press Review, 11, 63.
◄ Back to How to explain violent behavior? page
