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 charm2. Absence of delusions and irrational thinking3. Absence of “nervousness”4. Unreliability5. Untruthfulness and insincerity6. Lack of remorse or shame7. Poor judgment and failure to learn by

experience9. Incapable of love10. Unresponsiveness in general interpersonal

relations11. Sex life impersonal and trivial12. 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 1978-1991 of 17 knownmen & 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 ASPDNo treatment shown to be effectiveMore likely to end up in jail than in

treatmentFocus is on prevention –

Target antisocial children & channel characteristics (fearfulness, low anxiety) into positive roles▪ athletics, adventure, military