Antisocial Personality Disorder Symptoms

What Is Antisocial Personality Disorder?

Antisocial personality disorder (APSD) is a serious personality disorder that includes a pattern of antisocial behavior and actions that disregard or violate the rights of others. Often, those with ASPD will cause intentional physical or psychological harm to those around them.^1,3

Sociopaths and psychopaths have the most severe forms of ASPD and are considered a danger to society because of their likelihood to hurt, abuse, and exploit other people.⁴

ASPD Vs. Asocial Behavior

Those with ASPD may engage in impulsive and risky behaviors, manipulate people, and disregard others’ feelings. These people often find themselves in trouble with the law with no sense of remorse.

Asocial behaviors are different from antisocial behavior. Asocial behaviors are rooted in anxiety, and those with asocial behavior may exhibit feelings of nervousness, have trouble understanding social cues, and avoid social situations where they do not know anyone due to fear of rejection or anxiety around having conversations with strangers.

15 Symptoms of Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial personality disorder symptoms typically include lying, stealing, acts of aggression, and impulsive or irresponsible decisions. These are some of the most obvious signs of ASPD.¹ Less obvious symptoms of ASPD include a lack of empathy and remorse for their actions and a generally cool, detached, or apathetic demeanor.^2,3

Here are 15 common antisocial personality disorder symptoms:

1. Disregarding Rules, Norms, & Laws

People with antisocial personality disorder disregard rules and social norms, and sometimes intentionally break laws.¹ They may believe they’re “above the law” or that the “rules don’t apply to them.” For example, people with ASPD are more likely to engage in crime, violence, and stealing from other people.² This disregard for rules and laws is what makes antisocial people dangerous.

2. Hostile or Aggressive Behavior

Some people with antisocial personality disorder are openly hostile and aggressive toward other people. They may yell, scream, or call people names when they’re upset or angry, or they may even become physically aggressive toward others. Violent, hostile, and aggressive behaviors are one of the more common signs of a psychopath, who is known to have a more violent disposition.^2,4

3. Deceptive or Dishonest Behavior

Lying is one of the hallmark symptoms of antisocial personality disorder. While normal people feel guilty or bad when telling a lie, someone with antisocial personality disorder does not.^1,2,3 People with ASPD often lie, cheat, and deceive other people to get things they want, and some are even pathological liars who are more likely to lie than tell the truth, even when they have nothing to gain.⁵

4. Exploiting Others for Personal Gain

One of the key differences between sociopaths and psychopaths (who both have severe forms of APSD) is that sociopaths are more likely to exploit and manipulate others. Psychopaths, on the other hand, may use more direct forms of aggression or intimidation to get things they want. Examples of exploitative behaviors common in those with antisocial personality disorder include forming strategic relationships with people who have wealth or power, and using these people to get ahead.⁴

5. Unexpected Fits of Rage or Anger

Anger is one of the few emotions that a person with antisocial personality disorder may be able to feel and express. People with ASPD often have a restricted range of emotions, but are prone to outbursts of anger or rage. They may be extremely irritable and quick to yell, scream, or even become aggressive when they are upset or don’t get exactly what they want from others.^1,2

6. Irresponsible or Reckless Decisions

A pattern of reckless and irresponsible behavior is common in people with antisocial personality disorder, who will often seek instant forms of gratification.^1,2,3 For example, a large percentage of people diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder engage in recreational drug and alcohol use, gambling, and risky sex.³ They also may quickly lose interest in activities, becoming easily bored and seeking out new, more exciting thrills.⁶

7. Superficial Charm That Wears Off Over Time

Some people with antisocial personality disorder have the ability to turn on the charm in order to draw people in and gain their trust. People who first meet them might be impressed with their charisma, sense of humor, or ability to captivate a room full of people. Usually, this charm is superficial in nature, and wears off when people get to know them better. Over time, antisocial people tend to show their true colors, which are a lot less charming.^2,6

8. A Hunger for Power & Control

Researchers have long known that there are a disproportionate amount of sociopaths and psychopaths in executive leadership positions. For example, people with antisocial traits can often be found in high level government positions, as CEOs of large companies, or other positions of power.⁷ This is no coincidence, and is instead an unfortunate truth that it’s easier to get ahead when you’re willing to be ruthless and act without conscience.⁶

9. Using Coercion or Intimidation Tactics

Another one of the symptoms of ASPD in the DSM-5 is the use of coercion or intimidation.¹ Antisocial people use these kinds of tactics to get things they want, silence or control those who oppose them, and prevent being held accountable for their actions. For example, they may threaten or blackmail people who may expose a secret or use coercion or intimidation to get people to do things they want.

10. A Lack of Clear Direction or Life Purpose

People with antisocial personality disorder tend to lack purpose, meaning, and direction in life. Because they are mostly apathetic and emotionally detached, it’s difficult for them to develop long term goals, passions, or meaningful activities and relationships.⁸ Their lack of direction and purpose in life might also help to explain why they tend to be impulsive. Impulse control normally comes from weighing out the short-term pleasures vs the long-term goals and values, which people with ASPD may not have.

11. Ruthless Attacks Against Opponents

Because someone with antisocial personality disorder lacks empathy and remorse, they can be ruthless when attacking someone who opposes them. They are known to seek revenge against people who have “wronged” or “slighted” them in the past, and their revenge can be brutal.^2,4,6 For example, they could attack a person’s character or reputation so badly that the person loses their job or is unable to find work in the future. They may be especially ruthless against people who they perceive as a potential threat to them.

12. A Lack of Empathy, Guilt, & Remorse

It bears repeating that a lack of empathy, guilt and remorse is one of the most common symptoms of antisocial personality disorder. While some people with APSD (including sociopaths) may feel a twinge of regret if they do something to hurt someone close to them, they lack the capacity for true remorse. It’s usually easy for them to shrug off or justify their actions, even when they’ve really hurt or offended someone. Because they’re emotionally stunted, they also have trouble relating and empathizing with others.³

13. A Cold, Callous, or Detached Attitude

Antisocial personality disorder symptoms can also show up in a person’s overall mood and affect. People with APSD are often described as emotionally detached, indifferent, and even cold or callous.^2,3,6 For example, they may not seem affected at all when someone is hurt or emotional, and may not feel driven to help or assist someone in need. Some psychopaths even have a sadistic streak, and actually enjoy the pain and suffering of other people.^4,6

14. Fearlessness & Risky Behaviors

People with antisocial personality disorder often have a blunted affect and restricted emotional range. Most people with APSD don’t experience nervousness, anxiety, and fear to the same extent as most people do.^2,4 Their fearlessness can cause them to behave in reckless or dangerous ways, make risky decisions, or to seek out adrenaline rushes, even putting themselves in harm’s way.

15. Entitlement or Acting Superior to Others

Feeling superior to others, having inflated egos, or acting entitled is also common in people with antisocial personality disorder.³ This is especially true of malignant narcissists, who are diagnosed with both antisocial and narcissistic personality disorder. This combination is rather common, and can show up as acting better than others, entitled to special treatment, and angry when they aren’t treated with the respect or admiration they feel they deserve.⁵

Early Signs of Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial personality disorder often manifests as oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder in children and teens. There are many behaviors children and teens exhibit from time to time that are natural parts of their developmental process, such as expressing frustration and anger, however, if these behaviors are extreme and recurrent, that could be an early warning sign of ASPD.

Here are common early signs of antisocial personality disorder:

• Cruelty to animals
• Arson, stealing, or misuse of weapons
• Substance dependence
• Breaking rules or the law without apparent reason
• Aggressive behavior toward others
• Bullying or fighting others
• Sexual coercion
• Skipping school before age 13
• Lying for personal gain
• Running away from home
• Vandalism and property destruction
• Frequent mood swings
• Being bullied by peers
• Struggles with making and maintaining friendships
• Poor academic performance

Causes & Risk Factors of ASPD

While there is no specific cause for ASPD, there are a handful of risk factors to be aware of. Some of these are unavoidable while some can be helpful to know about to ensure you are creating a safe environment for children.

Below are possible causes and risk factors of antisocial personality disorder:

• Conduct disorder: Having a diagnosis for conduct disorder before age 18 is a risk factor in that the behaviors with this condition often develop into ASPD behaviors if left untreated.
• Brain abnormalities: Developmental issues within the brain or a traumatic brain injury can leave someone with ASPD and make it challenging to manage due to the limited cognitive abilities.
• Childhood trauma: Adverse childhood experiences substantially increase a child’s odds of developing mental health conditions in their adult years.
• Sexual abuse: Similarly to other forms of childhood trauma, sexual abuse at any age can alter the brain enough to lead to ASPD.
• Betrayal trauma: Betrayal and abandonment are painful experiences and can lead to the development of ASPD as a way to protect themselves and express their pain.
• Genetic factors: A family history of personality disorders or ASPD, mood disorders, or substance use disorders increases the risk of a child developing any or multiple of these conditions in adulthood.

How Is ASPD Diagnosed?

Those with an ASPD diagnosis generally have a diagnosis of conduct disorder or oppositional defiant disorder before the age of 18. While that alone is not the only criteria, a true diagnosis can take time to come to due to ASPD symptoms overlapping with other mental health conditions. A psychiatrist will give a formal ASPD diagnosis after thorough assessments and evaluations over a period of time to assess patterns, thought processes, and how someone responds to the consequences of their behaviors.

Treatment for Antisocial Personality Disorder

While there is no cure, there are treatment options for ASPD that can help to manage symptoms and provide education on how the disorder works. It is important to consider talking to a therapist, psychiatrist, and any group therapy facilitator as all these options are available as treatment. Specifically, CBT and MBT are therapy approaches that support ASPD patients well.

CBT helps those with ASPD to challenge their perspective to change their behaviors and actions. MBT also focuses on thought patterns, however the key difference is that MBT asks those with ASPD to think about how their thoughts impact their mental state, and then how their mental state impacts their behavior. There are other options available as well, such as group therapy, family therapy, and couples therapy.

Final Thoughts

People with antisocial personality disorder are often people who you want to avoid developing a relationship with. Because of their aggressive and emotionally manipulative tendencies, those who do get lured in by their charm often regret it later on. Knowing the signs and symptoms of antisocial personality disorder can help you spot antisocial traits, making it easier to protect yourself from these potentially dangerous individuals.