Defining AsPD and Conformity

In your own opinion, what attributes and behaviors do you believe truly define anti-social personality disorder as a diagnosis?

I'm very curious how this question will be perceived, especially by those who don't believe AsPD is a personality disorder.

If you were diagnosed with AsPD or suspect you have it, what is it that truly separates you from the 'mindless sheep' of society?

I personally think conformity does turn people into mindless sheep, yet for a society to work it does require conformity to some degree. So, where is the line that should separate being a mindless conformist to a free-thinking non-conformist in a working society?

I like the concept that ASPD is a behavioral diagnosis, so anyone who consistently acts in direct violation of acceptable societal rules, breaks laws, hurts people etc. I think factor 1 and factor 2 psychopathy are different, factor one being a primary psychopath and factor two being a “sociopath” are the more extreme manifestations and are ingrained personalities.

Also if you look at the dsm 5 there isn’t any mention of manipulation, being callous or unemotional and you only need to meet 3 of the criteria the main component being repeatedly breaks the law. So you could have people who are of all different types of personality diagnosed with ASPD.

https://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/ ... 39.1.0025a

As an outsider....I believe the basis for any personality disorder is detachment from reality when it comes to self. AsPD is all about the inability to accept that other's are equal to yourself. Like a child. Lashing out to perceived threats to ego. Inability to put others needs above your own because yours are always more important. Despising those trying to control you in particular ways. There is a lack of self awareness in the grand scheme. Like believing you're capable of something, believing you ARE being caring, when actually you're selfish to the point of affecting others happiness.

poxalis wrote:As an outsider....I believe the basis for any personality disorder is detachment from reality when it comes to self. AsPD is all about the inability to accept that other's are equal to yourself. Like a child. Lashing out to perceived threats to ego. Inability to put others needs above your own because yours are always more important. Despising those trying to control you in particular ways. There is a lack of self awareness in the grand scheme. Like believing you're capable of something, believing you ARE being caring, when actually you're selfish to the point of affecting others happiness.

I'd agree with that.

Quote from another thread

Greebo wrote:Plus most of their bullsh*t was state sanctioned and therefore not antisocial.

If you were diagnosed with AsPD or suspect you have it, what is it that truly separates you from the 'mindless sheep' of society?

I would think that in the case of ASPD it is a matter of not being engrained with the governing rules and regulations for how a society has to so-called successfully function. People, growing up, pick up all these very silly “laws” for how things ought to function, lest the world fall apart spontaneously. They are fed lies about what success constitutes, the idea that others' feelings should triumph all attempts to make yourself happy (for example: that being humble and mentally deficit is better than being brilliant and arrogant), and that being without family and love means you are eternally depressed and doomed for a life of misery - because surely without people surrounding you and spewing meaningless strings of decibels is better than pursuing a passion, or doing what YOU desire. It is referred to as selfishness but in reality it is what has driven all meaningful creations and discoveries; one need not apologise for mindlessly going about life dreaming about procreation and subordinance to whatever you want to screw you because you are too weak to take ahold of your life and oppose the status quo.
Another example of the latter constitutes the idea of how relationships on all levels should function, and all of the stupid actions and monologues that come with apparently loving someone. To observe, replicate, reproduce, and reinitiate the same behaviors and ideas over and over again. It is pathetic, animalistic, and wasteful of intelligent life. It differentiates people little from lesser animals. To reject those rules automatically and not change your internal state when discovering that you are completely different would make someone with ASPD completely separate from the so-called herd, which would desire to shift in succession on an internal level upon discovery. That is not the only way in which I would classify ASPD as seperate from society but probably the most noticeable aspect of ASPD by the typical observer.
For seeing the world this way, the few I have told have responded very negatively. I have been screamed at in the middle of the street by someone who I knew for revealing such statements. I said "Good," because I think people need to recognize and if necessary emotionally respond to how worthless that type of existence is. Whether they will change is up to debate... well, actually, not really.

Reaper wrote:I personally think conformity does turn people into mindless sheep, yet for a society to work it does require conformity to some degree.

..but for a society to advance or change, non-conformity is necessary. And I think you got the first part backwards: mindless sheep are drawn to conformity. It's safe, secure and predictable. Not much free thinking is required.

Also, it depends on what your definition of conformity is. Someone who regards themselves as non-conformist may very well be in some respects, but compare them to a total outsider who resists even the idea of conformity vs. non-conformity and they will appear to be quite unexceptional.

There are also levels of conformity. Some medical and psychological conditions necessitate it. One may conform in certain areas of life and not others. Anyone who claims to be a non-conformist is full of $#%^.

Regarding AsPD, poxalis provided the most complete answer, I think, although much of what she said could describe me, and I have not been diagnosed with AsPD. Any traits I have which might point to it would be more compatible with narcissism.

That said, I think the idea of conformity can be used as a tool. To conform deceptively is not only a good cover for one's true objective, but also a hiding place to spring from when the time is right, whether it be to achieve an ill-gotten gain or to reveal a particular idea or intent that would otherwise be regarded as taboo or miscreant if discussed or "previewed", even if no malice was intended.

Oblivion wrote:Also, it depends on what your definition of conformity is.

I see a conformist as someone who abides by the law for the most part (everyone breaks the law occasionally in minor ways - speeding, running a red light etc). A conformist may not entirely respect the law, but they usually prefer to play by the rules and live by societies standards.

There are also levels of conformity. Some medical and psychological conditions necessitate it. One may conform in certain areas of life and not others. Anyone who claims to be a non-conformist is full of $#%^.

Obviously being a conformist or non-conformist is not black and white. I don't think it's possible for anyone to be a complete non-conformist without ending up in jail or prison on a regular basis. Some conformity is obviously required to live within society, but it's how genuine it is and the level of it that determines the sheep from the wolves (that's how I see it anyway from an AsPD perspective).

ASPD is behavioural disorder so i think iit's #######4 in that sense means any normal person can have it.

An individual with bipolar disorder, depression etc can have ASPD, it doesn't mean much at all.