What is a key characteristic of Antisocial Personality Disorder?

The key characteristic of Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) is indeed a disregard for the rights of others. Individuals with ASPD often exhibit behaviors and attitudes that reflect a lack of empathy and a tendency to violate societal norms. This can manifest in manipulative, deceitful, or aggressive behavior, where the individual shows little remorse for harming others.

Understanding ASPD involves recognizing that the individual may engage in actions that harm others without any sense of guilt or consideration for the consequences, which is fundamentally tied to their inability to respect the rights of others. This characteristic is central to the diagnosis and informs treatment approaches, as therapeutic interventions will often focus on the individual's accountability and recognition of the impact of their behavior on others.

In contrast, the other options reflect characteristics associated with different mental health conditions or personality dynamics. For instance, the expectation of attention in social settings can be more aligned with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, extreme paranoia about others' intentions is typically seen in Paranoid Personality Disorder, and social discomfort leading to isolation may relate to Social Anxiety Disorder or Avoidant Personality Disorder. Each of these does not encapsulate the primary features or behaviors associated with Antisocial Personality Disorder.