abaisse wrote:
The word "sociopath" is being thrown around here. This is no longer a clinical label. It was reclassified as antisocial personality disorder. For sake of accuracy, if one is not yet 18 years old, they can't be diagnosed as a "sociopath", having antisocial personality disorder. Could they be a budding "sociopath"? Yes. Technically, it would be a conduct disorder for most of those shooters at schools.
Other personality disorders and psychiatric conditions can cause irrational (and dangerous) behavior. Episodes of constant bullying and a negative home environment can cause a first time episode of psychosis. Of course, it can be argued that a child with a history of bullying and a negative home environment are at risk for developing a personality disorder.
Whether they are born that way or not is one of the hottest controversies in psychiatry. For many personality disorders, environment or trauma has often been listed as their main cause or trigger. The past 5 years of research have resulted in some interesting revelations, such as biology playing a much larger role than we once thought. The amount depends on which PD we are talking about. I specifically interned within the speciality of Borderline Personality Disorder (though quite a few with BPD have a comorbidity of other PDs) in order for future certification in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Once thought to be untreatable, there is treatment & brain abnormalities have been found. The new research being done on personality disorders is very interesting & exciting.
Unfortunately, APD is probably still the least treatable of PDs because they generally lack insight. Therapy can give them the tools to better manipulate or lie to people. CBT may be beneficial.
Feeling the need to emphasize this after saying all that, personality disorder does not always equal dangerous. I worked with quite a few who wouldn't hurt anyone.
Very good knowledge on personality disorders. Well done.