Caitlyn Hilton

01 October 2015
Psy-1010-F15
Campbell
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Anti-social Personality Disorder (APD) is one of the most sensationalized yet
misunderstood mental illnesses. From Thomas Harris iconic Hannibal Lecter to Benedict
Cumberbatchs quirky but endearing portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, APD runs the gambit of
public opinion from being terrifying to being admired. While many enjoy any sort of media
featuring characters with sociopathic tendencies, most have no idea what type of mental illness
they are witnessing nor do they recognize that those tendencies may present themselves in real
live people. Where does the truth in what APD actually is really lie? In order to answer this
question it is first important to explain what a personality disorder is.
According to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fifth edition (DSM5) a personality disorder is an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates
markedly from the expectations of the individuals culture, is persuasive and inflexible, has onset
in adolescence or early adulthood, is stable over time, and leads to distress and impairment
(DSM-5 p.569). As you may be able to tell from the lengthy definition, the term personality
disorder covers a large range of specific diagnoses. Also, personality disorders may be difficult
to diagnose as they are relative to the personality traits of the individual. In order to qualify as a
concrete diagnosis, personality disorders, must meet a specific set of criteria as found in the
DSM-5. Personality disorders are divided into three groups known as clusters. The three
clusters under which personality disorders may fall are: A. Odd/Eccentric, B. Dramatic/Erratic,

and C. Anxious/Inhibited (Schacter, Gilbert, Wegner, Nock, 2014 p620). APD falls under
definition of the third cluster.
DSM-5 defines APD as a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights
of others that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood and it
continues on to say that deceit and manipulation are central features of personality disorder
(DSM-5 p. 659). Upon searching for examples of prolific individuals diagnosed with this
disease, it was easy for me to see why APD is often associated with terms such as sociopath,
psychopath, criminal, and dangerous (Schacter, 2014). According to Beth Cook in her paper
Serial Killers: Evolution, Antisocial Personality Disorder and Psychological Intervention,
some of the well-known individuals diagnosed with APD include Jeffery Dahmer, Charles
Manson, and Ted Bundy (Cook, 2011). As Larry Siegel indicates in the sixth addition of his
textbook Criminology: Theories, Patterns, and Typologies, the aforementioned individuals can
all be classified as serial killers, meaning that they have all killed a large number of people over
time while trying to escape arrest (Siegel, 1995).
If we take a deeper look into the case of Ted Bundy, we are given an example of APD in
one of its more brutal forms. Theodore Ted Bundy was executed by electric chair in 1989 after
claiming to have killed over 30 women in a 5 year time period. Though DSM-5 states that
individuals only need to meet three of the available criteria in order to be diagnosed with
Antisocial PD, Bundy fits all listed criteria (DSM-5 p.659). For example: DSM-5 states that the
individual must demonstrate a lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or
rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another Bundy himself stated that he didnt
feel guilty for anything. I feel sorry for people who feel guilt and when asked about the

murders he also posed the question whats one less person on the earth anyway (DSM-5
p.659).
Other stark examples of how Ted Bundys APD symptoms manifested can be seen in the
reckless and deceitful methods he used in his killings. For example he would kidnap his victims
from busy college campus parking lots in broad daylight; he would engage in elaborate play
acting feigning injury even to the extent of casting his arm and using it subdue his victims
through blunt force, again in broad daylight. This recklessness was also demonstrated in self
disregarded as evidenced when he insisted upon acting as his own legal counsel during trial. In
fact, in looking at his crime spree it appears that many of Bundys acts were based upon this sort
of thoughtless impulsiveness. All of these examples demonstrate how Bundys behaviors were
displaced and correlate with the DSM-5 criteria for APD.
Unfortunately there are not many success stories surrounding those diagnosed with APD.
In the article Introduction to Personality Disorders from the website abnormalpsych it is stated
that 50% in the inmate population meet the criteria for ASPD, Antisocial Personality Disorder
(abnormalpsych pp3). The treatments that are suggested for those with Antisocial PD include
psychotherapy, which is also known as talk therapy, or medication. According to the Mayo
Clinic Website, while there is not yet a medication created to specifically treat APD, some
medications prescribed for other corresponding conditions may help lessen the symptoms
associated with APD. However, those with APD very rarely seek help, and many around them
may not realize that they are in the presence of somebody that has a potentially dangerous
disorder because of the individuals proclivity to mimic the socially acceptable behavior of those
around them. Even if one was to recognize symptoms in an individual that may correspond with
traits of those with APD, many of the criteria that one must meet in order to be officially

diagnosed with antisocial APD directly suggest that those experiencing the symptoms would be
extremely adverse to treatment, not realize that treatment is needed, or that treatment would be
ineffective.
Compounding these already difficult problems there are a myriad of other problems such
as learned behavior and environmental situations that may affect the way that APD may present
in different individuals. Because of the nurture aspect of any mental illness, a persons culture,
upbringing, socioeconomic status, and education can all have a determination as to how an
individual will present. Because of all of these factors, many people go without diagnosis
throughout their lives. In fact, many people with APD, are diagnosed only after they have
already put themselves in situations where they are unable to receive help, this is especially true
because of the fact that APD cannot officially be diagnosed before the age of 18 (DSM-5 p. 659).
Learning about APD was a shocking experience. Though I, like many others, enjoy
reading novels and watching TV shows with main characters that show obvious signs of APD, I
was clueless as to how APD effects real individuals and their families. As APD continues to gain
notoriety through media it is my hope that people will take notice and realize that while
characters may be fictional, the mental illness they portray is very real. Personally, I will
continue to look into what options are available for the treatment of APD. Though, as previously
stated, there are few success stories revolving around individuals, I cant help but wonder if more
effective treatment may be administered. For now, as science continues to develop and grow, we
can only hope that APD is given the attention is so greatly deserves.

References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders:

DSM-5. Washington, D.C: American Psychiatric Association.

Burton, Neel. "The 10 Personality Disorders." Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers, 21 Aug.
retrieved from: www.psychologytoday.com
Cook, B. (2011). Serial Killers: Evolution, Antisocial Personality Disorder and Psychological
Intervention. The Faculty of Adler Graduate School. Retrieved from
http://alfredadler.edu/library/masters/2011/beth-i-cook
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2013). "Antisocial Personality Disorder." - Mayo Clinic. Mayo
Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Retrieved from: www.mayoclinic.org
"Personality." Abnormalpsych -. Tangient LLC, n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. Retrieved from:
Abnormalpsych.wikispaces.org
Schacter, D. L., Gilbert, D. T., Wegner, D. M., and Nock, M. K. (2014). Psychology. New York,
New York: Worth Publishing.
Siegel, L. J. (2007). Criminology: Theories, Patterns, and Typologies. Belmont, CA:
Thomson/Wadsworth.