Anti-social tendencies

Antisocial personality disorder can take various forms: the expression of antisocial behaviour can change considerably from being sneaky, manipulative and profiteering to direct attack. It is characterized by an attitude of contempt, disregard and violation of the rights of other people and manifests itself with hostility and / or physical aggression. Deception and manipulation are the privileged ways of behaviour of this type of personality. In many cases, hostile and aggressive behaviours can already appear during childhood and adolescence. Childhood is usually characterized by petty thefts, lies and clashes with those who represent authority. Adolescence is generally marked by episodes of substance abuse (marijuana, cocaine, heroin), violent gestures towards people and / or animals. Once adults, these subjects are unable to take responsibility, keep a job and maintain a stable emotional relationship. The way of relating to others is drastically characterized by superficiality and lack of respect for the feelings and concerns of those around them. Distinctive element of antisocial disorder is the lack of guilt and remorse for the actions committed. People with this disorder can, in fact, remain completely indifferent following the implementation of their actions to damage the other. The key word for this disorder is "irresponsible", since individuals are all extremely irresponsible in the workplace, financial, family, or in the impact of their actions on others.

The tendency of people with antisocial personality disorder to ignore the needs of others, the attitude of total indifference and the absence of remorse seriously affect the birth of sincere personal relationships with these people. The only relationships developed are based on the exploitation of the other aimed at achieving one's goals. At the working level, the lack of availability, repeated truancy and the tendency to not respect financial deadlines and rules, can lead these subjects to numerous legal problems.

Patients with antisocial personality disorder rarely turn to a professional voluntarily because they are unaware that they have a disorder. Usually, the beginning of a psychotherapy process is subsequent to the diagnosis of "psychopathy" made in court following criminal proceedings in which they have been accused. Hospitalization in environments such as, for example, psychiatric hospitals, is the essential prerequisite for planning pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments, the possible results of which may in any case vanish over time or once the subject changes environment.

Among the treatments with proven efficacy for the treatment of antisocial personality disorder it is possible to mention:

COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY
Cognitive behavioural therapy has only recently been applied to the treatment of antisocial personality disorder. It is advisable for the therapist to immediately establish guidelines together with the patient which will be an integral part of the therapeutic contract: the frequency of meetings, active participation and the completion of all necessary operations must be regulated in them. The main goal of the therapy will be to help the patient understand how it is he who generates his problems and his suffering and how his distorted perceptions of him prevent him from seeing himself and the way others see him. Because antisocial personalities tend to blame others and feel no remorse for harm, they have a low tolerance for frustration, are impulsive, and rarely manage to form trusting relationships. Working with these people is difficult because they are not motivated to change and have severe monitoring deficits of their own functioning: they simply think that others do as well. Therapists themselves must become aware of their own mental states to avoid getting involved and entangled in the interpersonal cycles of this disorder, compromising the therapeutic relationship that would lead to the immediate interruption of therapy. The attitude to take should mostly be one of acceptance and absence of judgment.