 I pulled up near a gas station. I told the service station guy to give me all of his money. I then took him to the bathroom and told him to kneel down and then I shot him in the head twice. The guy didn’t give me any trouble but I just felt like I had to do it. [The next morning, I left my car at another service station] I went in and told the guy to give me the money…Then I shot him.

 Personality disorder = psychological disorder characterized by inflexible and enduring behavior patterns that impair social functioning.  Dysfunctional behavior patterns that impair people’s social functioning without depression or delusions.

 Personality disorders symptoms  Ego syntonic = feels like a normal part of oneself  Most have interpersonal problems  Can be difficult to diagnose in initial session  Difficult to treat & can affect treatment of other disorders

 Personality disorders are classified within clusters defined by common features 1) Cluster A  Main feature is odd or eccentric in nature  Within this cluster: ▪ Paranoid PD – distrust and suspiciousness ▪ Schizoid PD – detachment from social relationships (does not want them) ▪ Schizotypal PD – feels intense discomfort in close relationships; has distorted thinking and eccentric behavior.

2) Cluster B  Main feature is dramatic, emotional, or erratic  Within this cluster: ▪ Antisocial PD – disregard for social norms and rights of others ▪ Borderline PD – instability in relationships, self-image, and mood; impulsive ▪ Histrionic PD – excessive emotionality and attention seeking ▪ Narcissistic PD – elaborate, need for admiration, self- centered

3) Cluster C  Main feature involves anxiety or fearfulness  Within this cluster: ▪ Dependent PD – submissive, need to be taken care of ▪ Avoidant PD – social inhibition and inadequacy ▪ Obsessive-Compulsive PD – orderliness, perfectionism, need to control things

 Formerly called a sociopath or psychopath  Usually male  Lack of conscience becomes plain before age 15  Common characteristics: 1. Superficial charm 2. Absence of delusions and irrational thinking 3. Absence of “nervousness” 4. Unreliability 5. Untruthfulness and insincerity 6. Lack of remorse or shame 7. Poor judgment and failure to learn by experience 9. Incapable of love 10. Unresponsiveness in general interpersonal relations 11. Sex life impersonal and trivial 12. Failure to follow any life plan

 “Criminal” is a legal term denoting conviction for breaking a law:  Not all people with ASPD are criminals (or in jail)  Not all people in jail or considered criminals have ASPD ▪ Many criminals do show responsible concern for their family and friends. ▪ Antisocial personalities feel and fear little.

 Jeffrey Dahmer  Killing spree of 17 known men & boys.  Murders involved rape, dismemberment, cannibalism, & necrophilia.  Henry Lee Lucas  32 years of crime  Confessed to killing 360 women, men, and children.  Murders involved beating, suffocation, shooting, and stabbing

Biological -Twin, family, and adoption data show strong genetic influence - Show little autonomic nervous system arousal is stressful situations -Violent repeat offenders have 11% less frontal lobe tissue than normal. Neither “bad” genes alone nor a “bad” environment alone predispose later antisocial behavior. -Nature vs. Nurture interact  Antisocial behavior seems to age out after 40 - could still show ASPD features (lying; poor work habits)

 Most don’t seek treatment for ASPD  No treatment shown to be effective  More likely to end up in jail than in treatment  Focus is on prevention –  Target antisocial children & channel characteristics (fearfulness, low anxiety) into positive roles ▪ athletics, adventure, military