One of the many symptoms of antisocial personality disorder is displaying aggression as a child. Most childhood aggression, whether name-calling, shoving, and minor fights, do not qualify for antisocial aggression. As for children with this disorder,
fist fights, intimidation, and milder acts of aggression escalate to dangerous heights. These kids eventually even use weapons in their fights to increase the level of assault. Cruelty to animals is another type of antisocial childhood aggression that connects with adult violence. Most with the disorder have histories of abusing, torturing, and even killing pets (Bad Boys to Bad Men 39).
Individuals with antisocial personality disorder learn how to evade responsibility for their offenses, and deceitfulness. Lying comes naturally to these patients, whose small fibs often grow into unbelievable stories and obvious dishonesty. As children, some become skillful at telling complex lies to parents, teachers, and others, using deceit to cover up bad behavior or to gain rewards. Theft is also common in those with antisocial personality disorder. This may involve shoplifting or breaking into cars, homes, and businesses. Sophisticated antisocial individuals may use stolen credit cards or checkbooks and some perform electronic crimes (40).
Many with antisocial personality disorder are extremely irresponsible. Most live for the moment and don't plan the future. "Related to irresponsibility in the antisocial's seeming inability to feel regret or remorse for his or her actions. This lack of conscience traps antisocials in emotional isolation, underlies their disregard for all standards of behavior, and dooms them to live without the social support most of us take for granted. But many antisocials wouldn't have it any other way. They see themselves as the true victims, not those they betray, rob, rape, or murder. They hold a perpetual grudge against the social order and inspire outrage when they reveal the contorted logic that, in their eyes, absolves them of all responsibility (51)."
"Antisocial individuals have a need to exert control over their environment and the people in it and are usually impulsive risk takers and thrill seekers, often to the point of recklessness (Antisocial Personality Disorder 34)." They show a disregard for others and themselves. "Many show symptomatic recklessness, driving too fast or while drunk, practicing unsafe sex, or taking countless other risks (Bad Boys to Bad Men 48)." The main cause of death for someone with this disorder are these irresponsible acts. "It is no wonder that antisocials have higher than normal death rates from diseases that require careful management, such as diabetes and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (48)."
"Bad parenting, defective genes, childhood trauma, and poverty are only a few of the...