Antisocial personality disorder: Signs, symptoms, and help

Like other less common mental health conditions, antisocial personality disorder is often misunderstood by both medical professionals and the general public. Despite what its name suggests, it involves more than a desire to keep to oneself or a lack of interest in social activities.

People living with antisocial personality disorder often exhibit impulsive, aggressive, and manipulative behaviors that cause harm to themselves and others. While it shares some features with borderline personality disorder (BPD), antisocial personality disorder is a distinct and separate disorder that requires a specific treatment plan.

If you’re wondering whether these traits sound familiar, this antisocial personality disorder test can help you reflect on your thoughts, behaviors, and relationship patterns. It’s not a diagnosis, but it can be a useful starting point for understanding your experiences and deciding whether it may be helpful to seek professional support.

A note about this quiz: This quiz is not a diagnosis. Antisocial personality disorder can only be diagnosed by a professional mental health professional after a comprehensive evaluation. 

It’s also important to know that people living with antisocial personality disorder don’t always view these behaviors as problematic. Even so, if these questions resonate with you or someone you care about, a professional evaluation can provide clarity and help identify appropriate next steps.

Could you have antisocial personality disorder?

Antisocial personality disorder is a mental health condition marked by a long-term pattern of disregarding the rights, feelings, and safety of others. Common traits include impulsivity, manipulation, aggression, and a lack of remorse after causing harm. It often occurs alongside substance use disorders and is diagnosed more often in men.

People living with antisocial personality disorder may not see their behavior as problematic, which means they don’t always seek treatment on their own. In some cases, they first come into contact with mental health care after legal problems or while getting help for a co-occurring condition like depression or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

If you’re wondering whether these patterns sound familiar, taking an antisocial personality disorder test can be a helpful starting point. As you answer the questions below, think about your typical patterns over time rather than focusing on a single situation.

Answer yes, no, or sometimes to the following statements based on what feels most true for you.

1. Do you often lie, manipulate, or deceive others to get what you want?

2. Do you act impulsively without thinking about how your behavior might affect you or others?

3. Do you frequently break rules or ignore laws and social expectations?

4. Do you often become aggressive or get into repeated conflicts with others?

5. Do you take advantage of others and feel little or no guilt afterward?

6. Do you have a pattern of being irresponsible with work, finances, or important commitments?

7. Do you rarely feel remorse when your actions hurt other people?

8. Have these patterns been present since your teens or early adulthood?

Quiz content written by: Brandy Chalmers, LPC.

How to interpret your results

If you’re wondering how to interpret your results, count how many times you answered yes, no, and sometimes. Then look at which response you chose most often.

• If you answered mostly yes: Your responses suggest you may have several traits associated with antisocial personality disorder. A mental health professional can help determine whether these patterns are related to antisocial personality disorder or another condition.

• If you answered mostly no: Your responses suggest you are unlikely to meet criteria for antisocial personality disorder.

• If you answered mostly sometimes: Your responses suggest you may identify with some of these traits, but not consistently. A mental health professional can help you better understand what may be contributing to these patterns.

Symptoms of antisocial personality disorder

This quiz was developed by a mental health professional using criteria from the diagnostic guidelines for antisocial personality disorder. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), a person with antisocial personality disorder will exhibit “a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, since the age of 15.” This might include:

• Not following societal rules, often doing things that could get them arrested.

• Being dishonest, lying, using fake names, or tricking others for fun or personal gain.

• Acting on the spur of the moment without thinking ahead.

• Getting easily irritated or aggressive, often getting into fights.

• Being careless about their own safety or the safety of others.

• Being unreliable, not sticking to jobs, or not paying back money they owe.

• Not feeling bad after hurting or taking advantage of someone.

Antisocial personality disorder involves a pattern of behavior, often over many years. Everyone has times when they stretch the truth, flout the rules, or act on a whim in a way that hurts others. And most of us feel a sense of regret when we do or say things that cause us or others harm. Exhibiting any of these behaviors on occasion does not mean that you have antisocial personality disorder.

What causes antisocial personality disorder?

There’s no single cause of antisocial personality disorder. Research suggests it develops from a combination of genetic factors, brain differences, and early life experiences like trauma, neglect, inconsistent parenting, or exposure to violence.

Not everyone with these risk factors develops antisocial personality disorder. However, when these influences occur together, they may increase the likelihood of developing long-term patterns of impulsive, aggressive, and manipulative behavior.

How antisocial personality disorder impacts daily life

Antisocial personality disorder can affect nearly every area of life. People living with this condition often have difficulty maintaining stable relationships, keeping a job, and meeting financial or legal responsibilities.

Their behavior may lead to repeated conflict, difficulty trusting others, and unhealthy substance use.

What to expect when being evaluated by a provider for antisocial personality disorder

If you or someone you care about is showing signs of antisocial personality disorder, one of the most important steps in healing is obtaining an accurate diagnosis from a therapist, psychiatrist, or other mental health provider. This will likely take several sessions during which your provider will get to know you, your history, and your presenting concerns. They’ll ask you about your family, your upbringing, and when your symptoms first began. They’ll also ask for some details about when your symptoms are most severe and when they appear to be less intense.

All of these questions will help your provider uncover your strengths and challenges and gain a better understanding of your unique treatment needs. While there isn’t a single test that is used to diagnose antisocial personality disorder, you may be assessed to rule out other conditions or identify possible co-occurring disorders.

As you explore treatment options for antisocial personality disorder or other mental health concerns, remember that your diagnosis is not a label that defines you. It’s a tool that your therapist will use to understand your experience and create a personalized treatment plan. Having an accurate diagnosis helps you get the most effective treatment possible.

Treating antisocial personality disorder

Although antisocial personality disorder can be challenging to treat, change is possible — especially when a person is motivated to understand how their behavior affects themselves and others. Treatment often focuses on building insight, improving impulse control, and developing healthier ways of relating to people.

Several types of therapy may be helpful, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and schema therapy. Treatment may also address co-occurring conditions like unhealthy substance use, depression, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Progress is often gradual. But with consistent support, people with antisocial personality disorder can learn new ways of thinking, managing emotions, and making decisions.

Clinician’s take

A screening test can be a starting point for self-reflection, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. If someone recognizes traits that concern them, seeking professional support can help them better understand those patterns and what to do next.

Brandy Chalmers, LPC

Clinical reviewer