It is a mental health condition involving a long-term pattern of disregarding or violating the rights, safety and boundaries of other people.

Common features can include:

• Persistent lying or manipulation
• Deceitfulness and exploitation of others
• Disregard for rules and social norms
• Impulsivity and poor consideration of consequences
• Aggressive or reckless behaviour
• Repeated irresponsibility
• Limited remorse or guilt after harming others
• Difficulty maintaining healthy relationships
• Using charm or persuasion to obtain what they want

ASPD vs. psychopathy

They are not exactly the same thing.

ASPD is a formal clinical diagnosis. Psychopathy is a broader psychological construct, often associated with characteristics such as superficial charm, callousness, lack of empathy, manipulation and shallow emotional responses. Someone can meet criteria for ASPD without fitting the full profile commonly described as psychopathy.

Importantly, being manipulative, selfish or abusive does not automatically mean someone has ASPD. Diagnosis requires a qualified clinician to assess the person’s longstanding pattern of behaviour and history.