Characteristics+and+Symptoms

=Characteristics and Symptoms= toc

Development
The cause of ASPD is theorized to be the right (or wrong) combination of both genetics and environment. There are also other possible causations of ASPD including chemical deficiencies as well as cranial trauma or substance abuse that damages the brain and may shift the thought process. The prefrontal cortex of the brain is thought to be the origin of the disorder. This area of the brain controls judgment, decision making, planning, impulsivity, and agressive behavior-- therefore, if this area of the brain is damaged or not functioning properly, all of these actions are impaired to some degree (Rais, 2010)(Nucleus 2011).

Symptoms
Risk factors for this disorder include heredity of both the disorder and/or substance abuse (Nucleus, 2011). The Psychology Department of NYU describes the symptoms including:
 * Breaking the law repeatedly
 * Deceitfulness, repeated lying
 * Impulsivity (eg, failure to plan ahead)
 * Irritability and aggressiveness (eg, repeated physical fighting)
 * Disregard for safety of oneself or others
 * Irresponsibility (eg, regarding work, family, finances)
 * Lack of guilt over hurting others
 * Inability to feel sympathy or empathy for others
 * Lack of concern for consequences of actions/behavior
 * Inability to learn from experience, modify behavior based on past outcomes or predicted future outcomes
 * Bullying or cruelty to animals and/or other humans
 * Destruction of property (Rais, 2010).