Antisocial Personality Disorder
Antisocial personality disorder refers to a mental condition that drives one to disregard what is considered generally right or wrong, and on several occasions, ignores the feelings those around them. People with this condition tend to treat others with indifference and cause them agony and do not feel remorseful for their actions. Personality disorder patients have difficulties coping with people within the social context. Since the pattern of behavior demonstrated by persons with the disorder in question causes them to clash with the people around them, the condition can be confused for simple rudeness. However, antisocial personality disorder has hallmarks that differentiate it from rudeness
Generally, rudeness can be defined as disrespect occasioned by the inability to comply with the existing social laws. And rude people have several characteristics. A rude person is unable to align his or her behavior with that of others in a social context (Beidel, Bulik, Hill, & Stanley, 2012). For example, he or she could use offensive language, be impolite, and violate taboos among other deviant acts. Rude people are unable to comply with the general rules of behavior that society accepts. Sometimes people may exhibit a certain degree of rudeness but they do not necessarily suffer antisocial personality disorder. The disorder is characterized with excessive rudeness among other characteristics. In addition on most cases rudeness is directed towards other people but the persons with the disorder sometimes perform actions which could harm themselves. It therefore follows that the disorder should be handled as a situation requiring medical intervention unlike simple rudeness which has to do with people’s character
Persons with antisocial personality disorder display behavior that is more than just an inability to comply with general rules of behavior. Rudeness is just one of the aspects that encompass the antisocial personality disorder. For example, antisocial people disregard what is considered right or wrong, which a symptom that fits within the definition of rudeness (Beidel, Bulik, Hill, & Stanley, 2012). Those with the disorder have problems fulfilling their social and work responsibilities. Additionally, antisocial people are hostile, irritable, overly aggressive, and violent. Additionally, persons with this condition have challenges complying with the law; hence, they usually have many run-ins with law enforcement. They also abuse drugs and are often very violent.
Another difference between this disorder and rudeness is that antisocial personality disorder patients not only offend other people but also harm them. For instance, one of the main symptoms of the disorder is taking unnecessary risks, such as abusing drugs, which causes problems such as arrests and even death. At times, people with the mentioned condition do not even recognize the negative impact of their behavior; thus they do not learn from the harm caused by their past behavior (Beidel, Bulik, Hill, & Stanley, 2012). On the contrary, rude people do not usually cause themselves harm, and they understand the negative implications of risky behaviors thus can avoid them.
Antisocial personality disorder refers to characterized by the inability to feel, especially for others. As such, those with the condition cause others harm and do not regret it hence to do not stop unless they are forced. The condition is often confused for rudeness because of the offensiveness exhibited by the affected. Nonetheless, the two are distinct. One of the differences between the two is that while antisocial people harm themselves, the rude ones do not. Additionally, excessive rudeness is just one of the symptoms exhibited by persons who have the antisocial personality condition.
Reference
Beidel, D. C., Bulik, C. M., Hill, C., & Stanley, M. A. (2012). Abnormal Psychology: A Scientist-Practitioner Approach, 4th Edition. London: Pearson Publishing.