Antisocial Personality Disorder: What is a typical thought pattern?

• A. I must look out for myself. The strongest survive. It's okay to lie and cheat if you don't get caught.
• B. I follow the rules and value honesty.
• C. I care what others think.
• D. I avoid risk-taking.

Answer: (A)

In Antisocial Personality Disorder, a typical way of thinking involves a self-centered, calculating perspective that prioritizes personal gain over moral rules or others’ rights. The statement “I must look out for myself. The strongest survive. It’s okay to lie and cheat if you don’t get caught” embodies that mindset. It shows a willingness to deceive and to justify unethical behavior as long as it benefits the individual, which aligns with traits like deceitfulness and a lack of remorse that are central to the disorder.

Other options reflect attitudes that are not characteristic of antisocial patterns. Following rules and valuing honesty suggests adherence to social norms; caring about what others think indicates concern for others’ opinions; and avoiding risk-taking points to risk-averse, cautious thinking. None of these reflect the self-serving, manipulative worldview typical of antisocial presentation.