The characteristics of an introverted personality are often assumed to be traits like shyness, social anxiety, or even avoiding social situations. However, don’t get it wrong. Many introverts can socialize with ease; they simply feel more comfortable when they are not socializing.
When socializing, the signals sent by the amygdala and nucleus accumbens (parts of the brain associated with pleasure and the reward system) in an introvert’s brain do not activate as intensely as they do in an extrovert’s brain. As a result, while extroverts feel joy when socializing, introverts do not experience the same.
Introverts also tend to use the frontal lobes of their brain more, which are responsible for planning, problem-solving, and memory. An introvert isn’t afraid of social activity, but they may appear that way because they tend to process things internally and think before speaking.
In short, “antisocial” and “introverted” are two completely opposite terms in the world of psychology.
So, What is Antisocial?
Personality disorders are conditions shaped by personal experiences and deviant behaviors, typically manifesting in adolescence or early adulthood. These conditions are stable over time and lead to personal distress or dysfunction. Personality disorders are specific mental health conditions that affect how a person thinks, feels, perceives ideas, or interacts with others.
Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by exploitative behaviors, deceitfulness, disregard for laws, violation of others’ rights, and aggression (often criminal) without clear or logical motives. People with antisocial disorder often have a history of problematic behaviors in childhood, such as truancy, breaking rules (e.g., committing crimes or substance abuse), and disruptive or proactive behaviors.
The severity of antisocial symptoms can vary. Patterns of behavior that are extremely dangerous, cruel, or horrifying are linked to psychopathy or sociopathy. While there is much debate about the accuracy of these descriptions, sociopathic behavior is marked by a flawed conscience—they know right from wrong but ignore it. Psychopathy, on the other hand, is characterized by a lack (or complete absence) of conscience.
Due to their manipulative tendencies, it is difficult for the average person to distinguish whether their statements are truthful or not.
What’s the Difference Between Antisocial and Asocial?
On the other hand, asocial is a personality dysfunction characterized by voluntary withdrawal and avoidance of any social interaction. An asocial person tends to disregard others and can sometimes be harsh. Asocial behavior differs from antisocial behavior, where antisocial implies hatred or antagonism towards others and societal norms.
Asocial tendencies are often observed in some introverts, but extreme asociality usually occurs in individuals experiencing certain clinical conditions, such as bipolar disorder, autism, schizophrenia, depression, Asperger’s syndrome, and social anxiety disorder.
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