Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial Alex 1

Running head: ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER OF ALEX DELARGE IN A CLOCKWORK ORANGE

Antisocial Personality Disorder: The case of Alex DeLarge in A Clockwork Orange

Antisocial Alex 2

Diagnostic Criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial Personality Disorder is an aberrant psychiatric state of being in which an individual violates the rights of others through tactics such as manipulation and deceit (DSM-IV, 1994). Also deemed as a psychopath, an individual who suffers from Antisocial Personality Disorder is often associated with the severe psychotic criminals who have no limits and have no remorse to his or her hostile actions (DSM-IV, 1994). The DSM-IV states that a specific pattern that involves an individual apathetically violating another person's rights subsequently occurs after the onset of age fifteen (DSM-IV, 1994). The diagnostic criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder requires three (or more) of the following symptoms to occur after the age of fifteen (DSM-IV, 1994):

(1) Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest.

(2) Deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure.

(3) Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead.

(4) Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults.

(5) Reckless disregard for safety of self or others.

(6) Consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations.

(7) Lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another.

In addition, the individual being diagnosed must be at least eighteen years of age (DSM-IV, 1994). Posing as precursors to the patterns that occur at the age of fifteen, the criteria states that there are signs of disorderly conduct that occur in the adolescent stage or before the age of fifteen (DSM-IV, 1994). The acts and behaviors of Antisocial Personality Disorder must not be

Antisocial Alex 3

reported to occur during a manic episode or simultaneously with Schizophrenia (DSM-IV, 1994). The DSM-IV separates these violating behaviors into four distinct categories: aggression to people and animals, destruction of property, deceitfulness or theft, or serious violation of rules (DSM-IV, 1994).

Epidemiology