Antisocial personality disorder is a mental health condition in which an individual seems to feel no need to conform to accepted standards of social behavior, and as a consequence may frequently violate the law and have difficulty maintaining healthy relationships and keeping a job. Among the most common symptoms of antisocial personality disorder are an apparent indifference to ideas of right and wrong, aggressiveness, deceitfulness, manipulativeness, impulsivity, and a seeming lack of awareness of other people’s rights. These attributes often lead to behavioral symptoms, such as frequent lawbreaking, physical or emotional abuse of loved ones, and irresponsible work-related conduct.
Indifference to the concept of right and wrong is one of the principal symptoms of antisocial personality disorder. In fact, it is due to this indifference that many other symptoms of this condition can emerge. An individual with the disorder may lie, steal, physically assault others, or emotionally abuse a loved one without experiencing feelings of guilt, shame, or remorse.
Some of the symptoms relate to the sufferer’s interpersonal relations. For example, he may frequently behave in a way that others find aggressive or intimidating. Conversely, he may have a finely honed sense of charm that he deploys in order to manipulate those around him. These symptoms can lead him to have problems maintaining healthy personal relationships, as his loved ones may find it difficult to trust him, or may even be frightened by him.
Impulsivity and irresponsibility are also common in people with this disorder. The sufferer may make rash decisions without considering their consequences. He may, for instance, fail to show up for work several days in a row without providing an explanation for his absence. Due to this apparent lack of judgment and commitment, he may have difficulty getting and keeping a job.
Combined with his indifference to right and wrong, this impulsivity may also lead the sufferer to break the law without remorse or fear of punishment. As a consequence, he may find himself frequently embroiled in legal troubles or may even be required to serve jail time. His loved ones are often affected by the exorbitant expense and extreme emotional stress of these problems, negatively affecting his personal relationships, which may already be strained. In addition, having a criminal record will, in many cases, further limit his ability to secure employment.