Anti-Social Personality Disorder
The labels sociopath and psychopath have often been used interchangeably. The clinical term is “Anti-Social Personality Disorder.” (APD) Like NPD, it’s long-lasting and affects all situations. Sometimes permanent, personality disorders are difficult to treat. Someone with APD must have had a conduct disorder by 15 years old, and show at least four of these traits:
- Doesn’t sustain consistent work (or school)
- Doesn’t conform to social norms, including unlawful behavior whether or not arrested
- Disregards the truth, indicated by repeated lying, conning, using aliases, not paying debts
- Impulsive or fails to plan ahead; moves around without a goal
- Irritable and aggressive; e.g., fights or assaults
- Recklessly disregards safety of self or others
- Consistently irresponsible, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations
- Lacks remorse, and feels justified in having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another
- Doesn’t sustain monogamy for more than one year