Antisocial Personality Disorder and its Causes

The term “sociopath” has been growing in usage in the United States, along with its known prevalence. Sociopathy is otherwise known as the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). It is a mental disorder that has been in the hot-seat of a long argued debate over its cause. Sociopaths are surrounded by a stigma of violence and serial killings. While many diagnosed with ASPD are not dangerous, there are a number of serial killers who are diagnosed with this disorder. This raises the burning question of the nature vs. nurture debate: are sociopaths born that way, or develop due to their childhoods? Antisocial personality disorder is caused by an abnormality in the mind (thus nature) based on studying personality traits, the upbringing and childhood, relationships with others, statistical analysis, biology, and societal function. 

Antisocial personality disorder is a disorder that doctors and experts can diagnose a person with based on symptoms exhibited by the individual that match the description of the disorder, otherwise known as personality traits. Sociopaths have a weak, limited conscience, or sometimes deal with the complete absence of a conscience (Stout). People who are considered sociopaths will often either present themselves in one of two ways. They will present themselves as extremely charming in order to seduce people with pathological lying, or they will appear callous with very shallow emotions, if they show any at all (Stout). Furthermore, sociopaths do not experience empathy, which is the ability to feel what others are feeling and connect to them. The research done on sociopaths has provided an in-depth definition and description of antisocial personality disorder that experts continue to analyze and which add to the nature vs. nurture debate.

Antisocial personality disorder can be detected through a number of ways, and one of the criteria includes personality traits. While not all those diagnosed with this disorder are violent, they will often use and manipulate people as they see others as tools for their own success (Robinson). With a lack of conscience and empathy, using others is the major driving force in sociopaths life. The overall absence of remorse in people diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder creates a chilling facade as well as causing them to appear quite impulsive. Another trait that develops as sociopaths age is failure to be responsible or to plan ahead (Mayo Clinic). Drug and alcohol abuse is also common among those diagnosed with ASPD. Aggression towards animals and other people, as well as other symptoms of this disorder often start to present themselves around age fifteen (Mayo Clinic). Moreover, children will have conduct issues in school and will often exhibit deceitfulness, theft, with a violation and disregard for rules (Mayo Clinic). The distinct personality traits associated with sociopathy suggest that the disorder occurs as a diversity within the brain and is therefore biological. While the counter for this argument may show that certain characteristics and tendencies can be learned to some extent and “certain symptoms — particularly destructive and criminal behavior — may decrease over time,” personality is also something that it is innate (Mayo Clinic). Additionally, “it’s not clear whether this decrease is a result of aging or an increased awareness of the consequences of antisocial behavior” (Mayo Clinic).These tendencies and traits also present themselves at a young age, so a lifetime of hurt and learning to change has not yet been experienced to influence personality. Not to mention, most of the personality traits characteristic of sociopaths come from their lack of conscience which is a malfunction within the brain, and not something that is taught or learned.

An equally important aspect of the debate that experts study and argue over is the childhood and upbringing of those with antisocial personality disorder. Many argue that the past of a sociopath led to their disorder. This is otherwise known as the nurture side of the debate. Yet, the role that childhood plays in antisocial personality disorder is highly controversial and contested for a reason. Many believe that unstable, violent, abusive, and/or neglectful childhood environments may be risk factors (Mayo Clinic). However, this does not cause but rather triggers the predisposition for antisocial personality disorder already in the child. There is further proof of a genetic factor in the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder. In fact, a family history of antisocial personality disorder can also be a marker for the disorder (Mayo Clinic). The slight relationship between family history and the chances of offspring developing the disorder suggests that there is a factor of heritability which supports the idea that antisocial personality disorder is genetic and sociopaths are born. In contrast, the childhoods and upbringings of many sociopaths do not necessarily give much insight into their condition. For example, there are famous serial killers who were diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder such as Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy who’s childhoods were examined and can be used as examples of this. Jeffrey Dahmer on the one hand, experienced a somewhat difficult childhood. As Dahmer grew, he was reserved and awkward, but was still able to make friends. Jeffrey’s parents went through a messy and tumultuous divorce that is a possible trigger for his actions as he then soon after killed his first victim (Biography.com). However, this occurred near the time of his high school graduation, and Dahmer had already exhibited other symptoms such as aggression, alcohol abuse, and animal cruelty by age fourteen (Biography.com). Another notorious serial killer, Ted Bundy, grew up in a much different way. He had lots of support and grew up in a stable, content, working class family (Biography.com). Bundy was shy and sometimes bullied in school, but he continued on to be an exceptionally charming and successful young man with great social skills (Jenkins). Bundy and Dahmer experienced different upbringings, but both grew up to be brutal serial killers. Dahmer grew into a necrophiliac murderer who would lure his male victims to his house where he would kill them and then perform sexual acts on the corpses. Bundy would kidnap, rape, and murder young, attractive women ruthlessly. Therefore, there is no consensus on the effect of the past on the development or severity of antisocial personality disorder. There are numerous other cases varying from healthy, stable early life to difficult and abusive childhoods that all produce a killer. Not to mention, lots of children go through similar situations and deal with family and individual problems without being diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. On top of that, research has compared case studies of their siblings who grew up under the same environment and were not diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, while the other child was (Smithstein).

In addition to upbringing and personality traits, personal relationships of those diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder are studied. The belief that children with parents who have a bad relationship are more likely to also have bad relationships or are at higher risk for divorce supports the idea that parenting plays a huge role in a child’s ability to later form relationships. To some degree, this is accurate. Children are constantly observing and learning from their parents, and their relationship with their parents is their first. However, the ability to form relationships, as well as the type of relationship, also depends on personality and the individual involved. In fact, twin studies have shown that genetics influence personality (Smithstein). In a sociopath, their personality and emotions affect their relationships. Sociopaths do not feel empathy or remorse, which impacts their relationships in a negative way. They often have poor or abusive relationships as they have no regard for the feelings of others and will experience problems with family, work, and school (Mayo Clinic).  Many close one-on-one relationships may form out of manipulation and a desire for self-preservation. Besides this one major problem with forming relationships, sociopaths also struggle with finances and taking initiative which can strain long-lasting and important relationships, such as with a spouse or significant other (Mayo Clinic). While some characteristics that may stress a relationship such as impulsivity and other traits can form out of a painful childhood, lack of empathy and emotion is not caused from the environment in which someone was raised (Mental Help Nature Nurture).  This supports the idea that without child abuse and neglectful environments, sociopaths would still exist. Furthermore, this lack of empathy and emotion can cause many of the personality traits and relationship issues as sociopaths have no moral compass to know right from wrong.

Statistics are used to describe sociopathy in a way that normal people can wrap their head around the full reaches of the disorder. In continuation, statistics allow experts to further analyze all aspects of antisocial personality disorder and draw inferences and conclusions about its causes. For example, four percent of America’s population struggles with this disorder. This means “one in twenty-five everyday Americans,” are sociopaths (Stout). An even greater insight into the cause of sociopathy lies within the gender difference. Far more men than women are diagnosed with ASPD (Mental Health.gov). The fact that there are gender-related differences in the prevalence of the disorder supports the argument for nature. It suggests the possibility of heritability and the role that genetics may play as sex-linked disorders and diseases are passed through genes. Moreover, as the sex of a child being born into a family is random and unplanned by the parents, a child is provided with the same environment, no matter the gender. Therefore, the nurture of children does not change across gender, but the likelihood of the disorder does. This statistic supports the nature argument as the male gender holds a predisposition for antisocial personality disorder, and the sex of a child is present at birth.

Strong support for the stance that sociopaths are born, not made, comes from brain biology. As much research has been generated to study antisocial personality disorder, tests where the brain is monitored through brain scans has provided information on sociopaths that show brain abnormalities. For example, when presented with emotionally charged words, ordinary people will react much quicker than a sociopath will (Leidenfrost). Sociopaths and those without the disorder also differ in how they react, not simply reaction time. A sociopath shows no difference in reaction time between neutral words and charged words (Leidenfrost). Sociopaths also study problems using these emotionally charged words just as they would an algebra problem, with “increased blood flow to the temporal lobe, part of the brain used for analytical thinking” (Leidenfrost). In contrast, those not diagnosed with ASPD find problems containing emotional words easier and more efficient to solve. These tests show that there is an actual difference in brain biology and chemistry in sociopaths that supports their pre-determined personality traits and tendencies rather than learned or created characteristics.

The persistence and importance of the cause of sociopaths stems from their societal function. While it is possible for sociopaths to lead a seemingly normal life, there are some who turn out to be killers. Any amount of violence stemming from a disorder is enough to place priority and emphasis on discerning a cause and possible prevention. However, within the population of sociopaths, a fair amount do not in fact exhibit violent behaviors, and it varies between each person (Robinson). This fact raises interest on what causes this variation among people diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, and why some turn out to be serial killers and others do not. This aspect of ASPD supports both sides of the debate and creates an argument for a sociopath created from their environment and childhood. Perhaps environment causes the variation and severity of the disorder. For example, those diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder that are married with a family and a job had a nurturing and normal childhood, where brutal serial killers suffered from neglect and abuse. While this is a possibility and is a logical reason for the differences in severity of this disorder, the case does contain some flaws. It does not explain or prove why the disorder developed in the first place. Also, while nurture during childhood may contribute to the severity of antisocial personality disorder, there are also serial killers that did not experience an abusive or hard childhood, such as the previously examined Ted Bundy (Smithstein). In conclusion, environment may affect and play a role in antisocial personality disorder, but sociopaths are created by nature, not nurture.

Antisocial personality disorder is responsible for the people referred to as “sociopaths,” and it means that these people have an absence of a conscience and empathy. Antisocial personality disorder is present at birth as it is a disorder and malfunction within the brain that causes certain traits and tendencies. While the nature vs. nurture debate is highly contested, the argument for nature is supported by analyzing personality traits, the upbringing and childhood, relationships, statistics, biology, and societal function. In short, sociopaths are born.

Works Cited

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• “Antisocial Personality Disorder.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 4 Aug. 2017, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/antisocial-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353928.
• Biographics. “Jeffrey Dahmer Biography: The Cannibal Killer.” Biographics, Biographics, 13 July 2018, biographics.org/jeffrey-dahmer-biography-the-cannibal-killer/.
• “Jeffrey Dahmer.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 16 Apr. 2019, www.biography.com/crime-figure/jeffrey-dahmer.
• Jenkins, John Philip. “Ted Bundy.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 20 Jan. 2019, www.britannica.com/biography/Ted-Bundy.
• Leidenfrost, Corey. “What Are the Causes of a Sociopath?” LIVESTRONG.COM, Leaf Group, www.livestrong.com/article/116006-causes-sociopath/.
• “Nature, Nurture and Psychopathy.” Mental Help Nature Nurture and Psychopathy Comments, www.mentalhelp.net/blogs/nature-nurture-and-psychopathy/.
• Robinson, Kara Mayer. “What’s the Difference Between a Sociopath and a Psychopath?” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/sociopath-psychopath-difference#1.
• Smithstein, Samantha. “Nature vs Nurture: the Debate Rages On.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-the-wild-things-are/201008/nature-vs-nurture-the-debate-rages.
• Stout, Martha. The Sociopath next Door: the Ruthless versus the Rest of Us. MJF Books, 2012.
• “Ted Bundy.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 16 Apr. 2019, www.biography.com/crime-figure/ted-bundy.