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Antisocial: Undesirable, criminal or disordered?

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Some experts have questioned whether people who display such antisocial patterns are in fact exhibiting a psychological disorder. Their behaviors may be extremely undesirable, even criminal in certain cases. But are they disordered?

Do you think that the behavior of such people reflects a form of psychological disorder? Or do you feel this behavior is better conceptualized as criminal or obnoxious?

As a therapist, do you think you would find it difficult to work with clients who display antisocial personality disorder? What about the disorder would you find most difficult?

How difficult would it be for you to set aside your distaste (or even repulsion) regarding the behavior of your antisocial clients?

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Solution Summary

By addressing the questions, this solution addresses aspects of antisocial patterns, and if they are undesirable, obnoxious or disordered. Some are criminal but are they disordered? Antisocial patterns are also explored in terms of therapist tolerance and vulnerabilities to certain clients with certain disorders, including how to deal with these. References are provided.

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RESPONSE:

1. Some experts have questioned whether people who display such antisocial patterns are in fact exhibiting a psychological disorder. Their behaviors may be extremely undesirable, even criminal in certain cases. But are they disordered?

This depends on your view of the cause of behavior and if behavior that deviates from the normal is considered "disordered" or not. If you were a behaviorist, then you would not accept it as a disorder, but a reflection of the environment that they person grew up in. Changing the environment, then, is key to changing the actions of these individuals.

If you buy into the medical model, however, and ascribe to the DCM-IV-TR , then you would agree with the diagnosis bases on displaying a number of symptoms associated with what is labeled "antisocial" personality disorder. For example, according to DSM-IV-TR, in diagnosing Antisocial Personality Disorder, individual regularly disregard and violate the rights of others through their actions. These behaviors may be aggressive or destructive and may involve breaking laws or rules, deceit or theft: The following criteria are used to diagnose Antisocial Personality Disorder:

A. There is a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15 years, as indicated by three (or more) of the following:

(1) ...

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