Sociopathy, also known as psychopathy, is a personality disorder in which an individual lacks empathy and caring for people or societal norms. It is diagnosed as anti-social personality disorder or ASP, by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association. It can lead to criminal behavior and institutionalization. No effective treatment currently exists. The causes of sociopathy remain a mystery but scientific theories abound, including genetic mutation, abnormal nervous system development and problems in the home environment during childhood.
Genetics
Personality disorders like ASP may be inherited through genetic transmission. Research studies of identical twins raised separately have shown that a personality disorder in one twin will often co-occur with a similar condition in the other twin, despite living separately, according to the Rethink website. Because identical twins are genetically identical, this finding suggests a strong genetic link.
Examinations of specific gene expression in individuals with ASP has revealed certain gene variations that may relate to antisocial behavioral tendencies. Of particular interest to some researchers are the genes that regulate the level of neurotransmitters produced by the body, which regulate mood, thinking and behavior. Researchers have found that genes triggering production of monoamine oxidase and serotonin, two critical neurotransmitters involved in mood and behavior, show lower than normal activity in individuals with ASP, according to a 2010 article in the Journal of Social Psychology. Many other genetic variations remain under investigation.
Nervous System Abnormalities
Abnormalities in nervous system development may contribute to the development of antisocial personality. Researchers have found that mothers who smoke during pregnancy prove more likely to have a child with ASP, which may result from decreased oxygen to the fetus during a critical period of nervous system development, according to the PsychCentral website. However, many children of mothers who smoke do not have ASP.
Brain imaging has revealed abnormalities of brain function in individuals with ASP. The neurotransmitter, serotonin, proves critical for regulation of mood and behavior. It functions widely throughout the temporal and frontal lobes of the brain. Brain scans have suggested abnormalities in these lobes of the brain, leading to theories of serotonin malfunction, according to the Psychcentral website.
Environment
Research suggests that most individuals with ASP experienced some type of abuse as a child. Parents of troubled children frequently demonstrate high levels of antisocial tendencies themselves, according to the PsychCentral website. These children often end up in the foster home system, and therefore experience unstable and erratic living environments. Inadequate or inappropriate adult supervision has also been frequently cited as a common aspect of the childhood lives of those who have ASP.
However, the relationship between these childhood experiences and the development of ASP is not straightforward. It appears that the environment must interact with genetic influences to increase risk for ASP, as not all children in unstable homes develop personality disorders, according to an article in a 2006 issue of the Psychiatric News.
References
- "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders"; American Psychiatric Association; 2000.
- PsychCentral: What Causes Antisocial Personality Disorder?
- "Journal of Social Psychology;" Genetic Contributions to Antisocial Personality and Behavior: A Meta-Analytic Review from an Evolutionary Perspective; C.J. Ferguson; vol 150, issue 2, 2010
- "Psychiatric News;" Gene Variant in Abused Boys Linked to Antisocial Behavior; J. Arehart-Treichel; Dec 1, 2006
