Causes of Anti-social Personality Disorder
After viewing the symptoms of Antisocial Personality, you may be wondering "What causes people to have this disorder?" Below are some potential causes of ASPD:
One theory suggests that abnormalities in development of the nervous system may cause ASPD. Abnormalities that suggest abnormal nervous system development include learning disorders, persistent bedwetting and hyperactivity. A recent study showed that if mothers smoked during pregnancy, their offspring were at risk of developing antisocial behavior, this suggests that smoking brought about lowered oxygen levels which may have resulted in subtle brain injury to the fetus. Another theory suggests that people with ASPD require greater sensory input for normal brain function. Evidence show that anti socials have low resting pulse rates, low skin conductance, and show decreased amplitude on certain brain measures. Individuals with chronically low arousal may seek out potentially dangerous or risky situations to raise their arousal to more optimal levels to satisfy their craving for excitement.
Child abuse also has been linked with antisocial behavior. People with ASPD are more likely than others to have been abused as children. This is not surprising since many of them grow up with neglectful and sometimes violent antisocial parents. In many cases, abuse becomes a learned behavior that formerly abused adults perpetuate with their own children. It has been argued that early abuse (such as vigorously shaking a child) is particularly harmful, because it can result in brain injury. Traumatic events can disrupt normal development of the central nervous system, a process that continues through the adolescent years. By triggering a release of hormones and other brain chemicals, stressful events could alter the pattern of normal development.
- Genetics. These inherited tendencies are aspects of a person's personality passed on by parents, such as shyness or having a positive outlook. This is sometimes called temperament.
- Environment. This means the surroundings a person grows up in, events that occurred, and relationships with family members and others. It includes such life situations as the type of parenting a person experienced, whether loving or abusive.
One theory suggests that abnormalities in development of the nervous system may cause ASPD. Abnormalities that suggest abnormal nervous system development include learning disorders, persistent bedwetting and hyperactivity. A recent study showed that if mothers smoked during pregnancy, their offspring were at risk of developing antisocial behavior, this suggests that smoking brought about lowered oxygen levels which may have resulted in subtle brain injury to the fetus. Another theory suggests that people with ASPD require greater sensory input for normal brain function. Evidence show that anti socials have low resting pulse rates, low skin conductance, and show decreased amplitude on certain brain measures. Individuals with chronically low arousal may seek out potentially dangerous or risky situations to raise their arousal to more optimal levels to satisfy their craving for excitement.
Child abuse also has been linked with antisocial behavior. People with ASPD are more likely than others to have been abused as children. This is not surprising since many of them grow up with neglectful and sometimes violent antisocial parents. In many cases, abuse becomes a learned behavior that formerly abused adults perpetuate with their own children. It has been argued that early abuse (such as vigorously shaking a child) is particularly harmful, because it can result in brain injury. Traumatic events can disrupt normal development of the central nervous system, a process that continues through the adolescent years. By triggering a release of hormones and other brain chemicals, stressful events could alter the pattern of normal development.