The term "antisocial" is often misused or misunderstood, leading to confusion between being socially awkward and having antisocial traits. It's essential to clarify the distinction between these two concepts:
Socially Awkward: Social awkwardness refers to a person's difficulty or discomfort in social situations. It is not a mental health disorder but rather a subjective experience of feeling uneasy or unsure in social interactions. Socially awkward individuals may have trouble initiating or maintaining conversations, struggle with nonverbal cues, experience anxiety in group settings, or find it challenging to read social cues and respond appropriately.
Antisocial (Antisocial Personality Disorder): Antisocial, when used correctly in a psychological context, refers to Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD), which is a specific personality disorder characterized by a pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others. Individuals with ASPD tend to exhibit a lack of empathy and remorse, engage in manipulative and exploitative behaviors, and often have a history of disregarding social norms and rules.
The confusion might arise due to the term "antisocial" itself, which sounds like it would mean someone who avoids social situations or is not sociable. However, in the context of personality disorders, "antisocial" does not refer to avoiding social interactions but rather to a pattern of behavior that is contrary to social norms and can cause harm to others.
In summary, socially awkward people are not inherently antisocial; they simply experience discomfort or difficulty in social situations. On the other hand, individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) exhibit a pattern of problematic behaviors and attitudes that can be harmful to others and go against societal norms. It's essential to avoid stigmatizing or mislabeling individuals based on misunderstandings of these terms and instead promote empathy and understanding for individuals with various social and psychological experiences.