Describe the basic features of antisocial personality disorder. Why is psychotherapy with this population so likely to fail?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Sample Answer: Antisocial personality disorder involves irresponsible, impulsive, deceitful behavior that violates social and legal norms. Antisocial individuals lack conscience and empathy, and feel justified in taking what they want, whether it suits other people or not. These behaviors start early in life as conduct disorder, which is considered a precursor to antisocial personality disorder. Often the individuals involved are glib and superficially charming but have a grandiose sense of self-worth, are very good at manipulating others, and lack remorse for their actions. Some researchers believe that the fearlessness, thrill seeking, and insensitivity to punishment shown by people with antisocial personality disorder are related to low levels of cortical arousal, although social factors such as familial divorce or substance abuse may also encourage antisocial behavior. Since people with antisocial personality disorder do not feel bad about what they have done, they rarely seek treatment unless forced to for family or legal reasons. Consequently, they are not motivated to change, often fail to cooperate with treatment, and may even try to manipulate the therapist in order to thwart therapeutic change.