Symptoms of a sociopath or Antisocial Personality Disorder 

Sociopathy  or sociopaths, and Antisocial Personality Disorder are considered  the same thing by many researchers. A sociopath, or someone diagnosed  with Antisocial Personality Disorder, suffers from a chronic,  or ongoing, personality condition. There are several personality disorders and these are divided into Clusters. Antisocial Personality Disorder is  a Cluster B disorder  and other disorders  in this group include Borderline Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality Disorder,  and Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Sociopathy, or Antisocial Personality Disorder is often referred  to by the abbreviations ASPD  or APD. 

Symptoms of a sociopath  or Antisocial Personality Disorder  are as follows: 

• No regard for right  and wrong 
• Continually deceit, lying,  and manipulation 
• Narcissism
• No regard for the rights of others 
• No regard for the law 
• Abusing and neglecting children 
• High levels  of aggression  and violent behavior 
• Impulsive behavior  and lack of self-control or self-discipline 
• Easily agitated 
• Abusive relationships 
• Poor work or school history 

It is believed that sociopaths or Antisocial Personality Disorder is a result of both nature  and nurture. Those who grew up in  an environment of verbal, physical,  and sexual abuse are at  a greater risk  of developing Antisocial Personality Disorder. Other risk factors include a  family history of mental illness or other personality disorders. Having an unstable childhood including traumatic events, such as death  or divorce, or being previously diagnosed with childhood conduct disorder. 

Though it can  be difficult to diagnose Antisocial Personality Disorder in individuals, there  are certain criteria that must be met before a mental health care professional will diagnose someone  with ASPD. Some of these requirements include: 

Being 18 years of age 

• Symptoms of Childhood Conduct Disorder before the age of 15 
• History of breaking the law 
• History of lying 
• History of manipulation 
• History of Aggression 
• History of  impulsive behavior 

Those who have ASPD or are sociopaths are at danger of harming themselves  and others. If you suspect that someone you love or care about, or think that you might have Antisocial Personality Disorder, it is important to speak  with a mental health care professional immediately.