Fact 2: Historical Perspective
Tracing the history of Antisocial Personality Disorder reveals a fascinating evolution in understanding. In the bygone eras, it wasn’t recognized as a distinct disorder. Individuals showing ASPD symptoms were often termed as having “moral insanity,” an outdated and inaccurate descriptor.
This term hints at how society once viewed mental health – through a moral lens rather than a clinical one. However, as science advanced, so did our understanding of psychological disorders. It was an era of moving away from vague moral judgments to a more refined understanding of mental health conditions.
By the 20th century, our understanding had matured, giving rise to the term “Antisocial Personality Disorder”. But even with its inclusion in diagnostic lexicons, debates surrounding ASPD’s exact nature and classification persisted, indicating the complexity of the disorder. (2)
