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Antisocial Personality Disorder

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  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences

Synonyms

Dissocial personality disorder; Psychopathy

Definition

Antisocial personality disorder is associated with a chronic pattern of disregard for and the violation of the rights of others. Diagnostic criteria include the commission of illegal acts, deceitfulness, manipulation, impulsivity, aggression, disruptions in interpersonal relationships, and the inability to sustain gainful employment.

Introduction

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), which is commonly associated with the repeated commission of illegal acts, is a personality disorder that is characterized by a chronic pattern of disregard for and the violation of the rights of others. The disorder finds its origins in childhood or adolescence and continues into adulthood. Estimates suggest a prevalence rate of approximately 2–4% (American Psychiatric Association 2013) in the general population, while 40–60% of individuals involved in the criminal justice system meet criteria for the disorder (Moran 1999). Although ASPD...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    Abby L. Mulay & Nicole M. Cain

Authors
  1. Abby L. Mulay
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  2. Nicole M. Cain
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abby L. Mulay .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA

    Virgil Zeigler-Hill

  2. Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Psychology, Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    Kevin Meehan

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Mulay, A.L., Cain, N.M. (2020). Antisocial Personality Disorder. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T.K. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24612-3_569

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