How to recognize antisocial personalities seeking to ruin our lives

For a certain group of people, the dominant and most frequently manifested personal motives are the lack of morality, a sense of responsibility, and also interest in others. The behavior of such a person almost completely satisfies only his needs.

In the medical and psychological literature, such a personality is designated by the terms “antisocial,” “psychopathic,” or “sociopathic.” It is worth noting that these concepts cannot be entirely identified with a person’s criminal orientation. Additionally, the term "antisocial personality" is not a medical diagnosis. This is just a certain psychological type of person who has a problem with morality. Such people have practically no conscience. And if an ordinary person from childhood begins to understand that people’s behavior has some limitations, and that everyone has to deny themselves pleasure from time to time for the sake of the interests of others, then antisocial types take into account only their own desires. They always behave impulsively, striving to immediately achieve their goals.

Psychopathic antisocial personalities are very different from those around them. They are given more courage and opportunities. They constantly take risks and break rules, doing things that others simply cannot do. At the same time, a person who is an antisocial personality is very interesting and bright. Others are drawn to him. And anyone who met such a person on his way will never be able to forget him.

An antisocial personality, or sociopath, is not at all a frightening maniac holding an ax in his hands. Such people can perfectly imitate the normality recognized in society. Nevertheless, direct contact with an antisocial personality threatens us with a ruined life and psychological trauma. This is why it is so important to recognize such a person at the very beginning of interaction with him.

Definition of the concept

How can you briefly describe antisocial personality? Experts currently classify sociopathic disorder as a mental pathology. This distortion is associated with disturbances in the relationship between the human super-ego and the ego. The first of them, which is a critical authority, may be either not fully formed or too harsh, that is, punitive. In addition, the ego ideal, which is part of the superego, in such people, as a rule, contains identifications directed against social ties.

Psychologist N. McWilliams describes an antisocial sociopathic personality through the prism of an expressed need for a sense of power over other people. This manifests itself in the form of a desire to influence and manipulate others. This allows the antisocial personality to rise above other people. Many experts note that such a person lacks the capacity for human affection.

Treatment of psychopathy

It is impossible to completely eliminate this violation. Some patients with psychopathy recognize that they have characteristics that make it abnormal for other people to live with them. If a person himself is aware of the presence of a problem, psychocorrection turns out to be more effective.

The patient can learn to control his impulses and change his attitude towards others. Family psychotherapeutic consultations and explanatory conversations with the patient can be of great benefit. Hypnosis is often used. In especially severe cases, psychotropic drugs are selected for patients.

Professional orientation

The degree of social adaptation of such an individual may vary. To define it, A. Aykhron introduced the concepts of obvious delinquency, as well as latent. As for the first option, in this case the person exhibits antisocial actions. In the second, a similar state exists, but does not appear outwardly.

For an antisocial personality, illegal motivation and committing crimes are not at all necessary conditions. For example, such people may be representatives of highly respected professions. These are surgeons, judges and teachers who, more than others, show a tendency to control and pressure. In this case, there is a combination of their individuality with the interests of society.

Smokescreen for tariff increase

By the way, many are mistaken in believing that next year, due to the freezing of tariffs of natural monopolies (the decision was made in August of this year), electricity tariffs will not increase. The talk was about freezing tariffs for electricity networks, that is, the cost of transmitting energy through distribution networks. And this cost in the electricity tariff is no more than 35-40%. That is, with the introduction of a social consumption norm throughout the country, tariffs may increase both by the basic amount of consumption and above it. “We will now begin to study the experience of the “pilot” regions. We have already agreed on the provision of data,” explained Anatoly Libet to Expert Online. – Therefore, we will not rush to a resolution for now. But the general opinion, of course, is that the introduction of social norms throughout Russia should be postponed to a later period; no one will have time to analyze everything anyway.” “In not a single “pilot” region where a social norm was introduced, the tariff for enterprises was lowered - and this was stated as the main goal. But for the population it increased both by the social norm and above the norm,” says Rashid Artikov. – And therefore, we are dealing with a secret increase in tariffs. It seems that, under the pretext of social protection of the population, they will simply increase our tariffs once again, and that’s all. The saddest thing is that so far even the power engineers themselves in the “pilot” regions have not felt the effect. On the one hand, the tariff for the social norm did not increase as they planned; on the other hand, they did not observe an increase in gross profit from the increase in the excess tariff. Or they don’t say.” By the way, such an experiment has been carried out in the Vladimir region since 2005.

“In fact, the population there began to pay less on average than the Russian average,” explained Ilya Dolmatov, . – But we must understand that they wanted to show a certain example in this region. But in seven years, cross-subsidization has not been avoided here either. There was some effect for enterprises, but it still needs to be analyzed. So we can say that the experiment failed here, and we can predict that it will be negative in other regions.”

The Scientific Explanation of Sociopath Behavior

In psychoanalysis, the antisocial personality type is considered from the point of view of a person’s inability to resolve his internal conflicts. Such people deliberately break ties with reality and escape from internal reality by committing prohibited actions, which are often prosecuted by law and suppressed by the state.

The main psychological defense of sociopathic people is their omnipotent control. In addition, they use projective identification, acting out and a wide variety of dissociative processes.

Nevertheless, the ability to exert pressure is of primary importance in such people. It is she who protects them from shame. This especially applies to rude psychopaths.

When delinquent behavior occurs, antisocial individuals often project their personal negative qualities onto society. For them, the world around them begins to look much worse than it really is.

Sociopaths' lack of conscience speaks not only of their defective superego. This trait clearly indicates a lack of primary mutual attachments to people. For sociopaths, the main value of the person next to them lies in their explicit or unconscious agreement to endure “cracks.”

The course of character psychopathy

Psychopathy, unlike psychosis, is not a progressive disease. However, such statics of psychopathy is conditional. It is fair in relation to the preservation of the unity of the individual. A personality, depending on external conditions and the influence of other factors, can be adapted (compensated) or maladapted (decompensated). Compensation for a psychopathic personality is carried out in two ways. In the first, under the influence of favorable social conditions, pathological character traits are smoothed out. The second path is aimed at developing secondary psychopathic traits in order to adapt to the environment (overcompensation). Violation of social adaptation occurs, as a rule, under the influence of external factors (psychotraumatic situations, somatic diseases, social conditions), and decompensating factors must be significant for a given individual. For example, a conflict in the family will be a significant moment for an excitable psychopath and will not have any decompensating effect on a schizoid personality. Decompensation is usually a pronounced increase in personality characteristics. For example, depressive states more often occur in hypothymic or cycloid individuals, hysterical reactions - in hysterical psychopaths, ideas of jealousy or litigiousness - in paranoid ones. Reactions may occur that do not correspond to the nature of psychopathy, contrasting with the personality type. Thus, asthenic reactions appear in excitable people, and depressive reactions in hysterical people. This usually happens under conditions of a severe traumatic situation (death of a loved one, hopeless life situation, etc.). In such cases, shock reactions and reactive psychoses may occur.

Decompensation of psychopathy usually occurs during periods of hormonal changes in the body. The most significant in this regard are puberty (adolescence) and the period of involution (menopause in women). In addition, a sharpening of characterological characteristics in women is observed during pregnancy, especially in the first half, after abortion, unsuccessful childbirth, and before menstruation. Pathocharacterological development of personality, in contrast to psychopathy, is the result of improper upbringing in the family, prolonged exposure to unfavorable social and psychotraumatic factors, with the psychogenic factor being the main one. For example, in conditions of constant suppression, humiliation and frequent punishment, character traits such as shyness, indecision, timidity, and self-doubt are formed. Sometimes, in response to constant rudeness, callousness, beatings (in families of alcoholics), excitability, explosiveness and aggressiveness also appear, expressing a psychologically defensive reaction of protest. If a child grows up in an environment of excessive adoration, admiration, praise, when all his desires and whims are fulfilled, then such traits of a hysterical personality are formed as selfishness, demonstrativeness, narcissism, emotional instability in the absence of initiative and goals in life. And if he is also an ordinary person who does not actually possess the glorified talents, then he has to assert himself and earn the recognition of others in other ways (different appearance from others, unusual actions, writing different stories about himself, etc.). Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish congenital psychopathy from pathocharacterological development of personality, especially since external factors play a significant role in the formation of congenital psychopathy.

How to recognize an antisocial personality?

The main thing to remember about such people is that they are prone to breaking rules. And absolutely any. Of course, such an ability helps them create something new, earn money, promote a service or product, and also boldly go down a path that other people did not take because of their fear or embarrassment. Nevertheless, a similar trait manifests itself in sociopaths when established rules and norms are violated.

Let's look at some examples that indicate the main typological signs of an antisocial personality:

1. Failure to comply with agreements. In short, the antisocial personality has a lot of problems with this. The fact is that antisocials are very afraid of being trapped by circumstances and being held responsible for something. That is why they will try not to make any promises, keeping silent, giving vague answers, dodging and cunning, or simply not complying with the agreements. Sometimes sociopaths still keep their promises. However, they do this until they receive personal benefit from it.
2. Failure to comply with traffic rules. An antisocial driver can be identified from afar. He drives his car very dangerously, speeding through the streets and cutting off other cars. Such drivers park exactly where they see fit.
3. Adultery. Antisocials very often cheat on their significant other or deceive their partner in some other way. In a relationship, a sociopath necessarily has a desire to be used. It is simply impossible for them to build personal connections based on mutual respect and interest. Antisocial individuals will always try to deceive, manipulate and deceive.
4. Lack of devotion to loved ones. Friendship and cooperation among such people are based purely on considerations of their own benefit. If there is interest, the antisocial will always be nearby. But as soon as a person is no longer needed, he will immediately betray, betray and leave.
5. Failure to comply with ethical standards. An antisocial person is not embarrassed by the fact that he is deceiving someone and that his actions may have harmful and dangerous consequences for others. For example, this could be promoting yourself as an expert in a certain field. Moreover, a sociopath will not even have the necessary education.
6. Breaking laws. Such people most often become criminals.
7. Ignoring the psychological boundaries of others. Antisocials can always put a person in an awkward position, read his correspondence, enter a room without knocking, disrupt other people's plans, force others to do something they don't want.

Nature has endowed sociopaths not only with a tendency to break rules, but also with high intelligence. Thanks to their abilities, such people may well become swindlers and successful businessmen, wonderful PR people and journalists, gigolos, thieves and police officers. In other words, such talent is applicable in a wide variety of areas. And not necessarily destructive. For example, antisocial individuals make excellent police officers. After all, in order to successfully catch criminals, you need to think like them.

How to recognize deviations at an early age?

Antisocial behavior is a disorder that often begins to appear in childhood. Children who have a disorder are not interested in lessons or activities in preschool. They demonstrate cruelty towards animals, their family members and weaker peers.

Such children often steal money and things from peers or loved ones, are prone to hysterics, fights, and insult others. At school they experience difficulties with their studies and conflict with classmates and teachers. Already at the beginning of puberty, they demonstrate an addiction to nicotine and alcohol-containing products. Why do such violations occur?

Character traits

Let's consider the main signs of an antisocial personality. Such people have the following characteristics:

1. Very charismatic. People easily fall in love with such people, because their appearance and behavior are designed to arouse the interest of others. Sociopaths seem bright and unforgettable, extraordinary and successful.
2. Most often they belong to wealthy strata of society. And this is not at all because they were spoiled by money, but because of their well-developed ability to benefit. Sociopaths take from the world whatever they want, meet influential people and acquire the necessary connections. Their main goal is power, as well as expensive things and money, in a word, everything that elevates them above others.
3. Their revenge is much stronger than their resentment. Sometimes a complete stranger comes under attack, who has not even done anything wrong to the antisocial person. However, she is already beginning to take revenge in advance. For example, an antisocial husband will hit his wife if she does not serve him dinner on time. At the same time, he will be completely confident that he is right. After all, he was offended! The sociopath won’t even think of relating his actions to what happened.
4. Risk-prone. It seems that the antisocial personality has practically no instinct of self-preservation. Often such people are partial to dangerous hobbies and adventures, alcohol, drugs and gambling. From the outside it seems that they do not value their own life at all or believe that they will certainly emerge victorious from all situations. And this despite the fact that those who are nearby are suffering or in danger.

It is worth noting that it is sociopaths who most often purchase convertibles in order to drive them only in the warm season. They will be able to shock you on the first date and be etched in your memory forever. Only asocials, without a stable income, will buy the most expensive clothes. It’s also not worth it for a long time to guess what type of personality the lady belongs to, who, without a twinge of conscience, will hang herself on other people’s husbands in the presence of their wives. Yes, all this relates to describing the character of an antisocial personality.

Clinical picture

It is difficult to say whether antisocial psychopathy is an independent pathology or a manifestation of some other mental disorder, which is more likely, although there is still debate about this issue.

A sociopathic person considers only his own point of view to be correct, and there is no criticism of his negative actions. Murder, theft and much more often have no motive - it is a kind of adrenaline rush, and not a specific goal. Sociopaths handle money carelessly and often abuse alcohol, which worsens their behavior and mood in general. The meaning of such a person’s life lies in the endless struggle with society, which brings him pleasure from the process itself. The antisocial personality type skillfully manipulates other people to benefit from the current situation, and does not experience a feeling of shame or remorse.

Interestingly, sociopaths do not yawn when other people do. It would seem that there is nothing special, but this suggests that a person cannot read the emotions of other people, he does not care what the interlocutor does. All actions are impulsive - “drop everything and do what I want at this moment.”

Sociopaths and society

Antisocial personalities can perfectly masquerade as “normal” people. That is why they do not shy away from society and are even drawn to it. However, despite the fact that such people immediately attract attention and look charming, you should not be deceived. After all, their charisma is just an external mask, which they put on and take off quite easily.

Most often, sociopaths speak in broad generalizations. In their speech you can constantly hear the following phrases: “Everyone knows...”, “Everyone believes...”, etc. This is how sociopaths transmit rumors. If you clarify: “Who is everyone?”, then they point to only one source, presenting his words as the opinion of society as a whole. For such people it is natural. After all, sociopaths consider society to be a huge enemy camp that is opposed to them.

In addition, antisocials like to spread bad news, make malicious and critical remarks, devalue, and also suppress. Such people are called “bad messengers,” “rumour-mongers,” and “gossips.” It's interesting that sociopaths don't deliver good news. They also don't make approving remarks.

When transmitting messages and news, antisocials tend to change their content only for the worse. They delay good news and let through only bad news, often flavored with their own inventions.

Most often, such a person is surrounded by intimidated friends and relatives. Even if they are not driven to real madness. However, their behavior in life is flawed, and they usually do not achieve success and fail. People close to antisocials are not able to show stable results in school or in treatment. The thing is that they are under an overwhelming influence, which is why they quickly get sick or lose the advantages that their acquired knowledge gives them.

People close to antisocials do not feel any improvement in their condition during therapeutic treatment. In addition, they respond poorly to rehabilitation measures. It is simply useless to teach and treat people close to asocials. Friendly participation will not help them either.

A lot of mentally ill people are only insane because of their association with sociopaths. For the same reason, it is difficult for them to recover. At the same time, it is almost impossible to meet an antisocial personality among patients in psychiatric hospitals. Only their relatives and friends are in these institutions.

Antisocial personalities like to choose the wrong targets. For example, if a tire is punctured, the culprit will not be a nail, but a satellite or other non-existent source. And the reaction to the loudly turned on radio of the neighbors is to kick their own cat, etc.

It is difficult for a sociopath to complete the cycle of his actions. That is why he is surrounded by unfinished business.

Antisocial individuals who take the path of crime, as a rule, will freely admit to committing their most terrible atrocities if they are forced to do so. At the same time, they do not feel any responsibility for what they have done. This is where the antisocial orientation and social danger of the criminal’s personality lies. After all, his actions have nothing to do with his own decision or choice. The sociopath's explanation is that it "just happened." These people do not feel the connection that always exists between cause and effect. Thus, they never have a feeling of shame or remorse.

The support of the antisocial personality is enjoyed only by those groups that are engaged in destruction. In relation to those people who strive for improvement and constructive action, while creating communities, such a person experiences indignation and rage, often attacking them.

The antisocial has virtually no sense of ownership. He believes that people's idea that one of them is capable of owning anything is just a hoax, an invention and a pretense. In his opinion, nothing can be someone's property.

Antisocial behavior

Antisocial behavior is behavior that is contrary to legal, moral, ethical and cultural norms. Since the problem of classifying behavioral deviations is controversial and interdisciplinary in nature, discussions are also observed in terminology (“antisocial”, “antisocial”, “delinquent” behavior). So, E.V. Zmanovskaya (2007) designates unlawful behavior of an individual as “delinquent behavior” (from the Latin Delinqens - “misdemeanor, fault”), and considers “criminal behavior” a form of delinquency. A.E. Lichko (1983), having introduced the concept of “delinquence” into the practice of adolescent psychiatry, limited it to minor antisocial actions that do not entail criminal liability (school truancy, petty hooliganism, bullying the weak, taking away small money, stealing motorcycles). V.E. Sömke et al (1983) equate the concept of “antisocial” and “delinquent” behavior. V.V. Kovalev (1981) believes that delinquent behavior is criminal behavior.

The widely used term “delinquent” abroad is mostly used to refer to a juvenile offender. Thus, in WHO materials, a delinquent is defined as a person under the age of 18 whose behavior causes harm to another individual or group. Upon reaching adulthood, a delinquent automatically becomes an antisocial person.

Crime is the most dangerous deviation from social norms. Acts of behavior are directed outward toward physical and social objects. The actions of the criminal cause significant harm to the target of the attack. For committing a crime, a person is held criminally liable.

Misdemeanors are minor offenses that do not pose a great public danger and do not entail the application of disciplinary or social measures to the offender.

Classification of crimes:

• according to severity: severe, moderate and not posing a public danger.
• by forms of guilt: intentional and careless
• intentional - according to the object of the attack, the goals and motives of the criminals: anti-state, selfish, violent, etc.
• socio-demographic: crimes of adults and youth; juvenile crimes;
• primary, secondary and recidivism.

In the modern world, commercial and economic crimes are becoming increasingly common. Corruption, organized crime, drug trafficking, terrorism, including hostage-taking, have developed. Torture, kidnapping and massacres remain relevant.

Signs of “antisocial personality disorder” can appear already in childhood: lack of emotional attachment to parents and loved ones, lying, cruelty to animals, weaker children, aggressiveness. Such children often get into fights and commit hooligan acts.

The causes of crime are determined by the real life conditions in which people operate.

Under the influence of specific circumstances and individual characteristics, a personality is formed which is characterized by:

• limited needs and interests;
• distortion of value orientations;
• antisocial ways of satisfying needs and interests.

K.K. Platonov identified the following personality types of criminals:

• Type I: determined by corresponding views and habits, an internal craving for repeated crimes.
• P type: determined by the instability of the inner world, a person commits a crime under the influence of prevailing circumstances or surrounding people.
• Type III: determined by a high level of legal awareness, but a passive attitude towards other violators of legal norms.
• Type IV: is determined not only by a high level of legal awareness, but also by active opposition or attempts to counteract violations of legal norms.
• Type V: determined by the possibility of only a random crime.

A type of criminal behavior is delinquent behavior. According to the figurative expression of E. Anchel, delinquent behavior can be classified as “criminal actions whose intentions were innocent.” For example, throwing objects from a balcony at passers-by, calling the airport control room with a warning about an alleged bomb. The group of these individuals includes representatives of groups I, III and V. The strength of the incentive inhibits the analysis of its negative consequences.

Often delinquent actions are mediated by situational impulse or affectogenic motives. The basis of situational-impulsive criminal actions is the tendency to resolve internal conflict, which is understood as the presence of an unsatisfied need (S.A. Arsentiev), as well as mental infantilism, egocentrism, subordination, resentment, etc. A neglected delinquent teenager may become a delinquent in order to receive punishment, viewing punishment as a sign of care and interest in his personality.

Prostitution . The term “prostitution” itself comes from the Latin word “to exhibit publicly” (prostituere). Typically, prostitution refers to extramarital sexual relations for payment that are not based on sensual attraction.

Prostitution began to emerge along with the social division of labor, the development of monogamy, and the emergence of cities. It is noteworthy that even in medieval Europe the church was forced to put up with this phenomenon, recognizing, if not the usefulness, then, in any case, the inevitability of the existence of prostitution.

The level of prostitution increased sharply with the development of capitalist relations, which caused serious public concern. In the last third of the 19th century. Regulatory methods (methods of medical-police supervision) were developed in order to streamline and, if possible, limit this type of relationship. However, the policy of prohibitions turned out to be ineffective. And yet, since the beginning of the 20s of the XX century. There is a noticeable decline in prostitution in both Europe and North America. The reasons for this trend, according to researchers, were the improvement in the economic status of women and her moral emancipation. Most young people stopped using the services of prostitutes; their clients remained mainly men of older age groups.

In our society, prostitution was considered “absent”; the long-term silence of the real situation led to the fact that the publication of the fact of the existence of prostitution caused a “shock” effect for many. Hence the unhealthy interest, angry demands, and some confusion. Prostitution was actively studied in the first years of Soviet power, but later research was stopped and resumed only in the 60s, and the first research results began to be published in the open press quite recently. They showed that compared to the 20s, the social basis of prostitution has changed significantly. At that time, hunger and poverty led many women to the path of vice. The bulk of prostitutes were recruited from among people with a low level of education, people from the villages. Today there is a sharp expansion of the social and age base. Among the prostitutes are students of schools, vocational schools, technical schools, and universities. “Bar girls” are driven into the arms of clients not by hunger, but by the desire for rapid material well-being and a “beautiful life.”

Prostitution contributes to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS; the woman loses her moral and physical health.

The reasons can be both socio-economic, moral and ethical factors, as well as biological. Some women have a strong libido (attraction) and their needs are above average (hence the access to sports sex).

Another reason is the environment that surrounds the prostitute (racketeers, pimps); the provoking factor may be primary rape, etc.

Sexual behavior is not as simple as it seems at first glance. The gender of an individual is not as obvious and unconditional as it seems to ordinary consciousness. It is no coincidence that a distinction is made between genetic or genital sex, and civil (passport) and “subjective” based on it, as the sexual self-identification of the subject. An example of sexual differentiation is hermaphroditism - bisexuality, congenital duality of the reproductive organs.

And in the case of transsexualism, a person not only feels that he belongs to the opposite sex, but also stubbornly strives to change it, including through surgery.

As for the direction of sexual attraction, it can be not only heterosexual or homosexual, but also bisexual (sexual attraction to persons of both genders). Of all types of deviant behavior, these types of sexual behavior are the most “biological” and therefore should be classified more likely as a clinical form.

The choice of a sexual partner is normally carried out using the age factor. There are a number of sexual deviations, the diagnosis of which is based on the discrepancy between the age-related orientation of desire: pedophilia, ephebophilia, gerontophilia.

Pedophilia is the direction of sexual and erotic attraction of an adult towards a child. This type of sexual deviation can be presented both within the framework of pathocharacterological types of deviant behavior, and with the addictive type. If in the first two cases the motives are psychopathological symptoms and syndromes (dementia, personality changes, character accentuations), then in the second - an attempt to experience special, unusual and new experiences for the individual when contacting a child.

Another type of sexual orientation of an adult towards young people is ephebophilia - attraction to teenagers. Ephebophilia can be part of the structure of delinquent, addictive, pathocharacteological and psychopathological types of deviant behavior.

Incestuous behavior is characterized by the direction and tendency to realize sexual desire in contacts with blood relatives (sisters, daughters, granddaughters). Such individuals are divided into 5 groups:

1. symbiotic individuals seeking intimacy, a sense of belonging; they have a pronounced and unsatisfied need for emotional warmth from those who would support them;
2. psychopathic individuals who seek novelty and excitement in incest; sex for them means physical stimulation;
3. pedophiles;
4. mentally ill with delusional and hallucinatory disorders;
5. representatives of some nationalities for whom incestuous relationships are not prohibited by traditions and religion.

Within the framework of the vector that evaluates the ways of realizing sexual feelings, the most famous and striking examples of deviant behavior are presented: sadism (violence), masochism (depression), sadomasochism, exhibitionism (demonstration of one’s own genitals); voyeurism (peeping on the process). It is they who often lead to a clash between the individual and the environment and the law, since they often violate legal, ethical, and aesthetic norms.

One form of antisocial behavior is vagrancy .

Vagrancy is a type of behavior that is the result of a double conflict - failure to achieve a goal by legal means and the inability to resort to illegal means due to internal prohibition (according to R. Merton). Therefore, the individual distances himself from the competitive order, which leads him to “flight” from the demands of society, defeatism, complacency, and humility.

Two characteristics of vagrancy can be distinguished: lack of a fixed place of residence and living on unearned income. Vagrancy is a specific way of life that develops during the constant breakdown of social ties (desocialization) of an individual. In the scientific literature, the term “marginality” (Latin - marginalis - located on the edge) is used to characterize vagrancy, denoting marginality, peripherality, intermediateness in relation to any social communities.

Of course, vagrancy causes significant harm to society. Firstly, it is always associated with other types of deviant behavior: alcoholism, drug addiction, crime. Secondly, tramps are carriers of infectious diseases. Thirdly, society is forced to spend significant funds on the maintenance of special institutions, social assistance, and medical care for this category of the population. In addition, vagrancy causes moral and psychological damage to the individual himself and those who encounter him.

Two groups of causes of vagrancy can be distinguished: objective and subjective. In addition to the general causes of deviant behavior, the objective ones include the following:

• housing problem;
• natural disasters, deterioration of the environmental situation in the regions.

Subjective reasons are determined by the psychological characteristics of the individual, life attitudes, and microsocial situation. The following types of vagrancy can be distinguished:

• people for whom vagrancy is a form of evasion of criminal responsibility;
• citizens who fundamentally do not want to work; this is the largest group;
• persons who have excessive requirements for their means of subsistence and who do not have enough income;
• people who have become vagabonds due to troubles in the family and at work;
• victims of social propaganda and their own romance;
• people with mental disorders.

Potential tramps are graduates of orphanages and boarding schools if they cannot find housing and work.

A combination of objective and subjective reasons forms the internal motivation for vagrancy; as desocialization occurs, it becomes a habitual way of life, which many of them can no longer change and do not want to change.

Special studies have made it possible to identify conscious and unconscious motives for vagrancy among some tramps, which indicate their desire to avoid social control and maintain their subjective, personal and social disidentification (Yu. M. Antonyan, S. V. Borodin, 1982).

Vandalism is one of the forms of destructive human behavior. When researchers talk about vandalism, they mean a variety of destructive behavior: from littering parks and trampling lawns to destroying stores during riots.

Vandalism is a predominantly male phenomenon (J. Howard, D. Francis). Most acts of vandalism are committed by young people under 25 years of age. Vandalism occupies a prominent place in the structure of criminal activity of adolescents aged 13-17 years.

Some studies show that most “malicious” vandals are in a crisis situation.

Depending on the dominant motive for destruction, S. Cohen identifies six types of vandalism.

• Vandalism as a method of acquisition. The main motive for destruction is material gain.
• Tactical vandalism. Destruction is used as a means to achieve other goals.
• Ideological vandalism. The destroyer pursues social or political goals.
• Vandalism as deprivation. Destruction occurs in response to insult or insult.
• Vandalism as a game. Destruction as an opportunity to raise status in the peer group.
• Evil vandalism. Caused by feelings of hostility, envy and pleasure from causing harm.

Another classification of vandalism motives is presented by D. Kanter:

• Anger. Destructive actions are explained by feelings of frustration, the experience of inability to achieve something, or an attempt to cope with stress.
• Boredom. The reason is the desire to have fun. The motive is the search for new experiences, thrills associated with prohibition and danger. As a means of self-affirmation, attracting attention to oneself.

In general, vandalism is considered as a type of teenage delinquency.

Sociopathic criminals

People who commit illegal acts are divided by criminologists into separate typological groups. A similar classification exists according to the nature of their antisocial orientation. Existing value orientations are also considered. The personality type of the criminal according to the nature of the antisocial orientation is:

1. Selfish. In this case, there is more than just a desire for enrichment. Important for such a person are the means leading to achieving the goal. This type of personality includes persons who commit fraud, robbery, robbery, theft and other types of theft, which include official crimes.

2. Violent. This type of personality includes people who have committed rape, hooliganism, murder, etc. The motives for committing such crimes are revenge, jealousy, etc.

3. Neglecting the duties assigned to a person according to a contract or law.

Signs of violations

Symptoms of antisocial behavior can vary. Some people experience such deviations as vagrancy, addictions, use of obscene language, and aggression towards relatives. Such manifestations cause suffering only to those who live next to this person or communicate closely with him. Other signs (pranks on the phone, drawing graffiti, vandalism, theft) are considered offenses. Persons who commit these acts end up in the police department.

Reasons for the development of sociopathy

Today there is no exact answer to the question of where antisocial personalities come from.

Psychologists put forward three versions of such reasons:

• environment and family;
• heredity;
• head trauma or stress suffered in childhood.

According to most experts, the main cause of the disease is genetic defects. However, what specific disorder causes sociopathy is unknown.

Possible reasons

Psychopathy often originates from childhood.
This condition can develop with prolonged influence of unfavorable factors in the social environment that affect the formation of personality. Psychopathy is not considered a disease; it is believed that it is a reflection of pathological character deviations that could be caused by the following reasons:

• trauma during embryonic development or childbirth;
• congenital defects of the nervous system;
• genetic predisposition;
• brain damage that affects its functioning;
• alcoholism of one of the family members;
• past infectious diseases;
• regular exposure to social pressure.

The development of psychopathy can be influenced by errors in parental upbringing.

1. Manifestation of overprotection. Parents take excessive care of their child, depriving him of the opportunity to become independent and withstand life's difficulties.
2. Permissiveness. The situation when parents allow their baby to do whatever he wants, satisfies all his whims. As a result, a person grows up who considers himself overly significant, with inflated self-esteem.
3. Free upbringing or neglect. The lack of necessary attention forces the child to adapt to life in society without anyone's help. This can lead to isolation in adult life.
4. Despotic form of education. A child deprived of care and support, who is regularly punished and kept in fear, grows up as an insecure, weak person.

The process of asocialization

Living in a society, every person internalizes its values, norms and rules. But the antisocial personality considered in sociology is one who neglects everything that is aimed at the normal functioning and stabilization of the state and relations between people. At the same time, she pays more attention to negative attitudes, roles and behavioral stereotypes. The ongoing process of a person’s assimilation of antisocial antisocial norms leads to a deformation of the connections that exist in society. The consequence of this is the destabilization of the state.

The process of a person’s assimilation of antisocial antisocial norms can proceed in two ways. The first of them arises at one or another stage of development of a person who is under the influence of a criminal group, a yard company or a negative microenvironment. This process is called “desocialization”. In this case, instead of positive values ​​and norms, a person establishes new ones - negative ones.

There may also be a delay in socialization. This process is expressed in the individual’s untimely assimilation of positive patterns of behavior and norms prescribed by society.

What is meant by this concept?

Any individual is subject to the laws of the group to which he belongs. A person is familiar with the moral and legal norms that exist in society. There are a certain number of people who ignore such rules. These are individuals of different professions, levels of material wealth, and age categories. Antisocial behavior is the intentional violation of laws and regulations that has an active or passive effect on other members of society. People who experience it do not follow established traditions. Therefore, others treat them negatively.

Treatment

What are the methods to combat sociopathy? It is worth noting that such a disorder cannot be completely cured, because such a person considers his behavior normal and does not see any shortcomings in it.

It is only possible to conduct psychotherapy for an antisocial personality with correction of the manifestation of the disorder. In this case, a person acquires the ability to take into account the wishes of loved ones and comply with the norms of behavior prescribed by society.

We looked briefly at the antisocial personality and its characteristics.

Treatment of psychopathologies

In the prevention of decompensation, the main importance is given to measures of social influence: proper upbringing in the family, school, measures for adequate employment and social adaptation, corresponding to the mental make-up of the individual and level of intelligence. In the compensation stage, psychopathic individuals do not need treatment. For decompensation, both psychotherapeutic methods (explanatory psychotherapy, autogenic training, hypnosis, family psychotherapy) and drug treatment are used. Psychotropic drugs are prescribed individually, taking into account psychopathological reactions and personal characteristics. In individuals with predominantly emotional fluctuations, antidepressants are successfully used; for severe hysterical reactions, small doses of antipsychotics (aminazine, triftazine), and for states of anger and aggressiveness, also antipsychotics (tisercin, haloperidol). In cases of pronounced behavioral deviations, “behavior correctors” such as neuleptil and sonapax are successfully used. Severe asthenic reactions require the prescription of stimulants (Sidnocarb) or natural drugs with a mild stimulating effect (ginseng, Chinese lemongrass, zamanika, Leuzea, Eleutherococcus, etc.).

The selection of drugs, doses and methods of their administration is carried out by a psychiatrist. For the period of decompensation, temporary loss of ability to work is determined with the issuance of a sick leave certificate. Patients are transferred to disability extremely rarely, under aggravating circumstances. The prognosis is generally favorable.

Read more:

• Manic-depressive psychosis: symptoms and treatment
• Reactive psychoses in traumatic situations
• Schizophrenia: symptoms, types of schizophrenia and treatment methods
• Delirium tremens and other alcoholic psychoses