A Look at Antisocial Personality Disorder Causes

The lack of empathy, overly opinionated, arrogant and irresponsible are a few of the terms used to describe an individual diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (APD). These individuals are often incarcerated on numerous occasions for their disregard to the law, have aggressive and violent behaviors, lack sympathy for others and a complete disregard for home, family and work. Antisocial personality disorder causes have not been fully discovered, however, those that have been diagnosed with the disorder appear to have a common background regarding their childhood.

Variety Of Theories

One theory cites brain injury as a cause when it is responsible for disrupting the “normal” release amount of serotonin, a neurotransmitter. A disruption in serotonin could be responsible for aggressive and/or impulsive behaviors, poor impulse behaviors, and mood regulations.

Aggression, poor impulses and mood swings are all typical, classical behaviors for those with a history of legal problems and many of those with this disorder are not given a diagnosis until they have entered into the legal system. According to published reports on Psych Central by Dr. Donald Black, behavioral problems typically occur before the individual reaches the age of fifteen, with the dysfunctional and/or law breaking behaviors continually increasing as they enter adulthood.

Several theories, according to Black, are linked to abnormalities in development of the nervous system. These abnormalities could lead to learning disorders and/or hyperactivity, both of which have shown to be displayed in those with antisocial personality disorder. Other, more recent theories have indicated that when a mother smokes during pregnancy, the child may be at risk of developing antisocial behaviors. The theory has suggested that due to smoking, oxygen levels are lowered which result in faint brain injury to the unborn child.

Other theories have suggested that individuals with antisocial personality disorder require larger sensory input in order to produce normal brain functions. Evidence relating to this theory include antisocial individuals having lower resting pulse rates, reduced skin conductance and a decrease in specified brain measures, all of which create a potential for low arousal. The presence of low arousal, increases the need to seek out risky and/or dangerous situations in order to raise their arousal to a level sufficient for satisfying their cravings for excitement.

The Environment

Causes of antisocial personality disorder have also been thought to be the result of an individual’s social and/or home environment. For example, children of parents with drug and/or alcohol problems or a child with an absent parent may be at a higher risk of developing the disorder. Adults with APD typically have childhood backgrounds that included physical, verbal and/or sexual abuse.

The lack of childhood bonding with parents as well as the lack of trusting, intimate relationships with primary caregivers could be a possible cause for antisocial personality disorder behaviors in adulthood. A lack of parental supervision often results in a child with small regard to the rules and regulations typically outlined during childhood. An undisciplined, unsupervised child will tend to aggressive, violent and inappropriate means of solving life situations.

Donald Black, MD. What Causes Antisocial Personality Disorder? https://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/what-causes-antisocial-personality-disorder/

Antisocial Personality Disorder https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000921.htm

Causes of Antisocial Personality Disorder https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/antisocial-personality-disorder