Is it possible to have antisocial personality disorder (sociopathy), and be a good person?

Question

Are sociopaths automatically 'evil' or deviant? Sure, selfish and uncaring of other people's feelings but that doesn't mean they're all going to end up in jail, right?

dumbasses do your research, antisocial personality disorder does not have anything to do with not liking to be around other people.

Answer 1

They are not all going to end up in jail... However most of them spend their lives doing something out of the norm of society.... con artists, etc. Not all end up as rapists, serial killers, murderers or the like. Most of them con people out of money, affection and generosities.
Too bad there isn't a litmus test before we get emotionally involved. That is a crime that usually goes without punishment.

Answer 2

I don't think so. I'm anti social; I really don't like being with people all that much, and to tell you the truth dogs are more fun to be with. However I do have a lot of passion for the plights of so many helpless. I do not like to see pain on the backs of someone else, stranger or not. I will not knowingly set out to hurt someone. Nor do I want to see anyone dead. I just don't like a lot of what people do to each other, and I avoid them at a great cost and with moderate extremes.
I think it is possible to be a good person as a sociopath, but then what is good? And whatever you consider good???compared to what?

Answer 3

I would argue that this is really not a "disorder". There is no physiological or medical test that can conclude that one has antisocial personality disorder. People get this diagnosis based on a set of behaviors that are observed or verbally reported. The behavior patterns can change when the variables in the environment that contribute to the occurence of the behaviors is identified. It could be that some individuals in this category have atypical reinforcers.

Answer 4

based on the information on this web site i would have to say no they can not be a good person even if they try i do not think they are evil it is a disorder it is not something you can control not all of them end up in jail

Alternative names

Psychopathic personality; Sociopathic personality; Personality disorder - antisocial
Definition

Antisocial personality disorder is a psychiatric condition characterized by chronic behavior that manipulates, exploits, or violates the rights of others. This behavior is often criminal.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Personality disorders are chronic behavioral and relationship patterns that interfere with a person's life over many years. To receive a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, a person must have exhibited behavior that qualifies for a diagnosis of conduct disorder during childhood.

The cause of antisocial personality disorder is unknown, but genetic factors and child abuse are believed to contribute to the development of this condition. People with an antisocial or alcoholic parent are at increased risk. Far more men than women are affected, and unsurprisingly, the condition is common in prison populations.

Fire-setting and cruelty to animals during childhood are linked to the development of antisocial personality.

Symptoms
A person with antisocial personality disorder:

Breaks the law repeatedly
Lies, steals, and fights often
Disregards the safety of self and others
Demonstrates a lack of guilt
Had a childhood diagnosis (or symptoms consistent with) conduct disorder
Signs and tests

Individuals with antisocial personality disorder are often angry and arrogant, but may be capable of superficial wit and charm. They may be adept at flattery and manipulating the emotions of others. People with antisocial personality disorder often have extensive substance abuse and legal problems.

Treatment
Antisocial personality disorder is one of the most difficult personality disorders to treat. Individuals rarely seek treatment on their own and may only initiate therapy when mandated by a court. The efficacy of treatment for antisocial personality disorder is largely unknown.

Expectations (prognosis)

Symptoms tend to peak during the late teenage years and early 20's and may improve on their own by a person's 40's.

Complications

Complications can include incarceration and drug abuse.

Calling your health care provider

Call for an appointment with a mental health professional if you have symptoms suggestive of antisocial personality disorder, or if your child exhibits behaviors that indicate a risk for developing this disorder.


Update Date: 11/15/2006

Answer 5

Right. They are just more likely to become psychopaths. I really don't agree with your definition of antisocial social personality disorder being a sociopath. Some people with antisocial personality disorders just don't like people and prefer to be alone or with animals. Doesn't make them bad, just not likeable to other humans.

Answer 6

I would answer your question **yes**. Sociopaths may be horrible people in the things they think about, but I feel not all of them act on such impulses. but then how would we know that they are a sociopath? answer: psychological testing will betray thier best efforts to fool us. but when I'm around sociopaths, I treat them like anyone else, but am vigilante, and avoid putting myself in situations where I can be seriously victimized.

Answer 7

David,

By definition, sociopaths are self-centered and lack remorse when they do something to hurt others. They are always looking out for themselves and doing whatever it takes to cover their lies and deception.

The only 'good' sociopath is one who is locked-up so that he can't hurt others.

In my opinion, sociopaths have denied that conscience that we are all born with. They have denied their conscience so much that it no longer exists for them.

Answer 8

i think so. and to be honest, i guess i really don't have good reason to believe they are good. but people can make their own decisions, and i'm sure some sociopaths struggle to try and do the right thing.

...they at least try.

Answer 9

BE a good person? NO!
Fake it and ACT LIKE a good person? YES!

Sociopaths are as individual in their behavior patterns as anyone else. Each one will deal with his/her condition in his/her own way.
Much depends on the sociopath's basic level of intelligence and powers of observation as he/she grows and learns with the progression of life and the passing of time.
The more intelligent and observant ones will notice early-on that something present in others is missing in themselves. Many of them are capable of learning through experience and/or just figuring out that mimicking social behavior and faking the emotional responses they lack will often mask their true nature and gain them what they want from others.
The less savvy of them are more likely to blatantly exercise their anti-social urges and thereby openly expose their psycho/emotional condition. These are the most likely to become the stone-hard, unrepentant criminals whose deeds we see on the nightly news.
They may vary greatly in the ways their sociopathy manifests itself, according to their learning patterns and life experiences.
Some "let it all hang out" and bulldoze their way through life leaving a wide path of destruction in their wake.
Some find areas of life in which they can openly express their
uniquely negative nature without fear of reprisal. (Of course, this is just a personal speculation that I know can never be officially confirmed or denied, but I suspect that high-level "security" organizations like the late KGB, or our own CIA just LOVE to recruit "controllable" sociopaths for their deadlier covert "black bag" operations.) If they are careful and diligent enough to seek them out, there are plenty of opportunities within our society that allow socially accepted outlets for such a personality - ranging all the way from professional mercenary to being the guy at the local animal shelter whose job it is to gas the unclaimed animals.
Some carefully avoid anything that will bring them into contact with "the law" and just quietly make life a living hell behind closed doors for unfortunate family members.
Some have even discovered that they can use the law as a weapon against others by turning in foolish nuissance complaints against their neighbors and other acquaintances at every opportunity - watching like the proverbial hawk for anybody to do anything they think they can report and get someone punished for.

As to the original question, though - again, I do NOT believe that a true sociopath can ever BE a good person. Genuine "goodness" (which might be defined here, for the sake of clarity, as kindness, thoughfulness and consideration towards others) requires a degree of empathy and sensitivity that is too scarcely evidenced in the behavior and attitudes reflected by even normal, non-sociopathic personalities these days. A true sociopath? NO WAY!!!

The irony of it all is, though, that sociopaths probably did not, could not and would not CHOOSE to be the way they are. In all likelihood they cannot help BEING what they are, but they DO have the choice of whether or not to ACT the part.
In our age of mass media, there are plenty of opportunities for them to observe and learn from "normal" social behavioral patterns that they can copy and model, and there is no doubt that at least some DO.

Answer 10

I wish they could all go to jail and leave all of us alone...no such thing as "good" in a sociopath...