Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Assessment and Case Formulation

  • Chapter
Behavioral Case Formulation

Abstract

Habitual rule breaking and chronic disregard for sociolegal restraints are behavioral characteristics attributed to individuals labeled antisocial personality. Authors of the DSM-III (American Psychiatric Association, 1980) deemphasized underlying traits and negative intentions and enumerated specific types of behavior seen as définitive of antisocial personality disorder. Diagnosis of pathologically nonconforming individuals was predicated firmly on documentation of a history of continuous and chronic antisocial involvements. Not too many years ago, however, primary attention had been given to cataloguing unwholesome personality traits to describe individuals labeled sociopath and psychopath. It was assumed that socially deviant behaviors were energized by such personality substrates as selfishness, impulsiv-ity, and callousness. Historically, these notions replaced even more uncomplimentary terms which described antisocial persons as “morally deranged,” “psychopathically inferior,” and “morally insane.” Even today, to observe a constellation of antisocial characteristics may be tantamount to inferring the presence of negative personality traits or person deficits.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Adams, H. E. (1981). Abnormal behavior. Dubuque, IA: Wm. C. Brown.

    Google Scholar 

  • Albert, R. S, Brigante, T. R., & Chase, N. (1969). The psychopathic personality: A content analysis of the concept. Journal of General Psychology, 60, 17–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association (1968). DSM-II: Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1980). DSM-III: Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arieti, S. (1967). The intrapsychic self. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1983). Temporal dynamics and decomposition of reciprocal determinism: A reply to Phillips and Orton. Psychological Review, 90, 166–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T. (1976). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. New York: International Universities Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brantley, P. J., & Sutker, P. B. (1984). Antisocial behavior disorders. In H. E. Adams & P. B. Sutker (Eds.), Comprehensive handbook of psychopathology. New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryan, J. H., & Kapche, R. (1967). Psychopathy and verbal conditioning. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 72, 71–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cleckley, H. (1955). The mask of sanity (3rd ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cleckley, H. (1976). The mask of sanity (5th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eysenck, H. J. (1964). Crime and personality. London: Methuen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairweather, G. W. (1954). The effects of selected incentive conditions on the performance of psychopathic, neurotic and normal criminals in a serial rote learning situation. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Illinois, 1953). Dissertation Abstracts International, 14, 393–394 (University Microfilms No. 6940).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowles, D. C. (1984). Biological variables in psychopathology: A psychobiological perspective. In H. E. Adams & P. B. Sutker (Eds.), Comprehensive handbook of psychopathology. New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gendreau, P., & Suboski, M. D. (1971). Classical discrimination eyelid conditioning in primary psychopaths. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 77, 241–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, J. G., & Lombardi, D. N. (1967). Personality characteristics of young male narcotic addicts. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 31, 536–538.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gorenstein, E. E. (1982). Frontal lobe functioning in psychopaths. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 91, 368–379.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gorenstein, E. E., & Newman J. P. (1982). Disinhibitory psychopathology: A new perspective and a model for research. Psychological Review, 87, 301–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gough, H. G. (1948). A sociological theory of psychopathology. American Journal of Sociology, 53, 359–366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gough, H. G. (1960). Theory and measurement of socialization. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 24, 23–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray, K. G., & Hutchinson, H. C. (1964). The psychopathic personality: A survey of Canadian psychiatrists’ opinions. Canadian Psychiatric Association Journal, 9, 452–461.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gullick, E. L., Sutker, P. B., & Adams, H. E. (1976). Delay of information in paired-associate learning among incarcerated groups of sociopaths and heroin addicts. Psychological Reports, 38, 143–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halleck, S. L. (1981). Sociopathy: Ethical aspects of diagnosis and treatment. In J. H. Masserman (Ed.), Current psychiatric therapies, (Vol. 20). New York: Grune & Stratton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hare, R. D. (1965). Acquisition and generalization of a conditioned-fear response in psychopathic and nonpsychopathic criminals. Journal of Psychology, 59, 367–370.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hare, R. D., & Quinn, M. J. (1971). Psychopathy and autonomic conditioning. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 77, 223–235.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hare, R. D., & Schalling, D. (Eds.). (1978). Psychopathic behaviour; Approaches to research. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heilbrun, A. B. (1979). Psychopathy and violent crime. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 47, 509–516.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heilbrun, A. B. (1982). Cognitive models of criminal violence based upon intelligence and psychopathy levels. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 50, 546–557.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johns, J. H., & Quay, H. C. (1962). The effect of social reward on verbal conditioning in psychopathic and neurotic military offenders. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 26, 217–220.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kadlub, J. J. (1956). The effects of two types of reinforcements on the performance of psychopathic and normal criminals. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Illinois.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lion, J. R. (1978). Outpatient treatment of psychopaths. In W. H. Reid (Ed.), The psychopath: A comprehensive study of antisocial disorders and behaviors. New York: Brunner/Mazel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lykken, D. T. (1957). A study of anxiety in the sociopathic personality. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 55, 6–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lykken, D. T. (1978). The psychopath and the lie detector. Psychophysiology, 15, 137–142.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maddocks, P. D. (1970). A five-year follow-up of untreated psychopaths. British Journal of Psychiatry, 116, 511–515.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mäher, B. A. (1965). Principles of psychopathology. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marlatt, A. (1982). Relapse prevention: A self-control program for the treatment of addictive behaviors. In R. B. Stuart (Ed.), Adherence, compliance and generalization in behavioral medicine. New York: Brunner/Mazel.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCullough, J. P., & Adams, H. E. (1970). Anxiety, learning sets, and sociopathy. Psychological Reports, 27, 47–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, V., & Turkat, J. D. (1979). Behavioral analysis of clinical cases. Journal of Behavioral Assessment, 1, 259–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Overall, J. E. (1973). MMPI personality patterns of alcoholics and narcotic addicts. Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 34, 104–111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Persons, R. W., & Bruning, J. L. (1966). Instrumental learning with sociopaths: A test of clinical theory. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 71, 165–168.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Quay, H. C, & Hunt, W. A. (1965). Psychopathy, neuroticism, and verbal conditioning: A replication and extension. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 29, 283.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ray, J. J., & Ray, J. A. B. (1982). Some apparent advantages of subclinical psychopathy. Journal of Social Psychology, 117, 135–142.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rime, B., Bouvy, H., Leborgne, B., & Rouillon, F. (1978). Psychopathy and nonverbal behavior in an interpersonal situation. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 87, 636–643.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robins, E., Gentry, K. A., Munoz, R. A., & Marten, S. (1977). A contrast of the three more common illnesses with the ten less common in a study and 18-month follow-up of 314 psychiatric emergency room patients. II. Characteristics of patients with the three more common illnesses. Archives of General Psychiatry, 34, 269–281.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robins, L. N. (1978). Sturdy childhood predictors of adult antisocial behaviour: Replications from longitudinal studies. Psychological Medicine, 8, 611–622.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robins, L. N. (1981). Epidemiological approaches to natural history research: Antisocial disorders in children. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 20, 566–580.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schmauk, F. J. (1970). Punishment, arousal and avoidance learning in sociopaths. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 76, 325–335.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, R. A. (1978). Probability of punishment and suppression of behavior in psychopathic and nonpsychopathic offenders. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 87, 514–522.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, R. J. (1978). The psychopath in society. In D. T. Lykken (Ed.), Personality and psychopathology (Vol. 19). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spitzer, R. L., Endicott, J., & Robins, E. (1975). Research diagnostic criteria. New York: Biometrics Research, New York State Department of Mental Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, D. J. (1972). Effects of social reinforcement on dependency and aggressive responses of psychopathic, neurotic, and subculture delinquents. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 29, 76–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suedfeld, P., & Landon, P. B. (1978). Approaches to treatment. In R. D. Hare & D. Schalling (Eds.), Psychopathic behaviour: Approaches to research. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutker, P. B. (1970). Vicarious conditioning and sociopathy. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 76, 380–386.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sutker, P. B. (1971). Personality differences and sociopathy in heroin addicts and non-addict prisoners. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 78, 247–251.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sutker, P. B. (1974). Field observations of a heroin addict: A case study. American Journal of Community Psychology, 2, 35–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sutker, P. B. (1982). Adolescent drug and alcohol behaviors. In T. Field, A. Huston, H. Quay, L. Troll, & G. Finley (Eds.), Review of human development. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutker, P. B., & Allain, A. N. (1983). Behavior and personality assessment in men labelled adaptive sociopaths. Journal of Behavioral Assessment, 5, 65–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sutker, P. B., Allain, A. N., & Cohen, G. H. (1974). MMPI indices of personality change following short- and long-term hospitalization in heroin addicts. Psychological Reports, 34, 495–500.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sutker, P. B., & Archer, R. P. (1983). Drug abuse and dependence disorders: Psychopath-ology and deviance. In H. E. Adams & P. B. Sutker (Eds.), Comprehensive handbook of psychopathology. New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutker, P. B., Archer, R. P., Brantley, P. J., & Kilpatrick, D. G. (1979). Alcoholics and opiate addicts: Comparison of personality characteristics. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 40, 635–644.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sutker, P. B., Archer, R. P., & Kilpatrick, D. G. (1981). Sociopathy and antisocial behavior: Theory and treatment. In S. M. Turner, K. S. Calhoun, & H. E. Adams (Eds.), Handbook of clinical behavior therapy. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutker, P. B., Gil, S. H., & Sutker, L. W. (1971). Sociopathy and serial learning of CVC combinations with high and low social-content ratings. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 17, 158–162.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sutker, P. B., Moan, C. E., & Allain, A. N. (1974). WAIS performance in unincarcerated groups of MMPI-defined sociopaths and normal controls. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 42, 307–308.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sutker, P. B., Moan, C. G., & Allain, A. N. (1983). Assessment of cognitive control in psychopathic and normal prisoners. Journal of Behavioral Assessment, 5, 275–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sutker, P. B., Moan, C. E., & Swanson, W. C. (1972). Porteus Maze Test and qualitative performance in pure sociopaths, prison normals, and antisocial psychotics. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 28, 349–353.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thome, F. C. (1959). The etiology of sociopathic reactions. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 13, 319–330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ullmann, L. P., & Krasner, L. (1975). A psychological approach to abnormal behavior (2nd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaillant, G. E. (1975). Sociopathy as a human process: A viewpoint. Archives of General Psychiatry, 32, 178–183.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weissman, M. M, Pottenger, M., Kleber, H., Ruben, H. L., Williams, D., & Thompson, W. D. (1977). Symptom patterns in primary and secondary depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 34, 854–862.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Widom, C. S. (1976). Interpersonal and personal construct systems in psychopaths. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 44, 614–623.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Widom, C. S. (1977). A methodology for studying noninstitutionalized psychopaths. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 45, 674–683.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M. (1979). Sensation seeking: Beyond the optimal level of arousal. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M., Sola, S., Masterson, J., & Angelone, J. V. (1975). MMPI patterns in drug abusers before and after treatment in therapeutic communities. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 43, 286–296.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Service, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70146, USA

    Patricia B. Sutker

  2. Department of Psychology, Southern University, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70118, USA

    Alan R. King

Authors
  1. Patricia B. Sutker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alan R. King
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of North Carolina, Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA

    Ira Daniel Turkat

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1985 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Sutker, P.B., King, A.R. (1985). Antisocial Personality Disorder. In: Turkat, I.D. (eds) Behavioral Case Formulation. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-3644-8_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-3644-8_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-3646-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-3644-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation