Slides

Individuals who commit murder or other forms of violent crime are likely to exhibit one or more personality disorders. Essentially, any personality disorder can be associated with violent crime and often the individual committing the violent crime may have multiple personality disorders. This includes those described in the DSM-5, as well as other disorders, such as sadistic personality disorder and psychopathy. Sadistic personality disorder and psychopathy, along with antisocial personality disorder and paranoid personality disorder, are the most common personality accompaniments of violent crime. Narcissistic traits are almost universal in this domain since violent offenders usually place their own desires and urges far above those of others. With a focus on murder, clinical examples drawn from the crime literature reflect 14 varieties of unique personality disorders. It is important to note that personality disorders are divided into three categories: Cluster A, Cluster B, and Cluster C.

Cluster B: A person with this type of personality disorder has difficulties regulating their emotions and behavior. Others may consider their behavior dramatic, emotional, or erratic. There are four disorders in Cluster B: antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders.

People with a personality disorder are likely to also experience co-occurring mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders (e.g., depression), and/or substance use disorders. Another interesting point to consider, and one that you may see in some of the criminal case studies in this course, is that animal torture before adulthood is an important predictor of future violent (e.g., sadistic) crime. Whereas many antisocial persons are eventually capable of rehabilitation, this is rarely the case for psychopathic or sadistic persons.

R–Z: Cluster C

Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Conduct your own research online and/or in the Library to identify three or more credible sources of information/evidence (e.g., court documents, documentaries, journal articles, news reports, etc.) about the personality disorders to which you were assigned.

Consider the characteristics and conditions of each of the personality disorders to which you were assigned.

Use the PowerPoint Presentation: APA Presentation Template, found in the Learning Resources for this Discussion, to create a PowerPoint presentation in which you address the following for each personality disorder:

Title (1 slide)

Content (5–9 slides)

Describe the characteristics (e.g., symptoms) typically associated with the personality disorder as outlined in the DSM‐5 and the Learning Resources for this Discussion.

Describe the conditions (e.g., frequency and duration of symptoms) typically associated with the personality disorder as outlined in the DSM‐5 and the Learning Resources for this Discussion.

Explain how the personality disorder may be associated with violent crime.

References (1–2 slides)

Cite the sources you used to support your presentation using proper APA format and style.