Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)

Antisocial personality disorder - Wikipedia

January 8, 2025, 3:47 PM

Personality disorders are generally believed to be caused by a combination and interaction of genetics and environmental influences.[72][20] People with an antisocial or alcoholic parent are considered to be at higher risk of developing ASPD.[73] Fire-setting and cruelty to animals during childhood are also linked to the development of an antisocial personality disorder,[74] along with being more common in males and among incarcerated populations.[72][67] Although the causes listed correlate to the risk of developing ASPD, one factor alone is unlikely to be the only cause associated with ASPD and relating to a listed cause does not necessarily mean that a person should identify or be identified as having ASPD.[75]

According to professor Emily Simonoff of the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, there are many variables that are consistently connected to ASPD, such as: childhood hyperactivity and conduct disorder, criminality in adulthood, lower IQ scores, and reading problems.[76] Additionally, children who grow up with a predisposition of ASPD and interact with other delinquent children are likely to later be diagnosed with ASPD.[77][78]