Antisocial Personality and Targeted Violence (2014)

December 10, 2025

This article reviews the role of antisocial personality traits and disorders in the context of targeted violence. While antisociality is common in criminal populations, the authors argue that its contribution to targeted violence is often indirect, mediated through impulsivity, entitlement, callousness, and a history of rule violations rather than ideological or grievance-driven pathways. The paper differentiates antisocial personality disorder, psychopathy, and related constructs, clarifying their variable relevance across case types. Through illustrative vignettes, the authors analyze how antisocial traits may influence threat communication, boundary-testing, escalation patterns, and responses to intervention. Recommendations are provided for integrating antisocial features into structured threat assessments, including considerations around supervision, containment, treatment engagement, and the risk of retaliatory or opportunistic aggression.

 

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