A defect in empathy or in the capacity to appreciate other people’s feelings, especially to comprehend how others feel about the consequences of one’s own actions, is the core feature of which disorder?

Schizoid personality disorder.

Dissocial personality disorder.

Paranoid personality disorder.

Emotionally unstable personality disorder.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

A defect in empathy and disregard for others’ feelings is central to dissocial personality disorder, a condition marked by persistent antisocial behavior, lack of remorse, and failure to conform to social norms. Individuals often manipulate or exploit others and show callousness toward the consequences of their actions. They may have a history of conduct disorder in childhood and continue to violate the rights of others into adulthood. This disorder is associated with increased risk of criminality, substance abuse, and poor interpersonal relationships.

Rationale for correct answer

B. The defining feature of dissocial personality disorder is a profound lack of empathy and disregard for others’ emotions, especially regarding the impact of one’s actions. This aligns directly with the question stem, which highlights impaired emotional comprehension and interpersonal insensitivity. Individuals often rationalize harmful behavior and show no remorse, making this the most scientifically accurate choice.

Rationale for incorrect answers

A. Schizoid personality disorder is marked by emotional detachment, social withdrawal, and limited interest in relationships. However, it does not involve active disregard for others’ feelings or consequences of actions. These individuals prefer solitude but do not typically harm or manipulate others.

C. Paranoid personality disorder involves pervasive suspicion and mistrust of others, often interpreting benign actions as malicious. While interpersonal difficulties are common, the core issue is not a lack of empathy but rather hypervigilance and misinterpretation of intent.

D. Emotionally unstable personality disorder (often borderline type) features intense emotional instability, impulsivity, and fear of abandonment. Although empathy may fluctuate during emotional crises, the primary deficit is not a consistent inability to appreciate others’ feelings, but rather difficulty regulating one’s own emotions.

Take Home Points

Dissocial personality disorder is defined by persistent antisocial behavior, lack of empathy, and disregard for social norms.
It must be differentiated from schizoid personality disorder, which involves emotional detachment but not interpersonal harm.
Paranoid personality disorder centers on mistrust and suspicion, not emotional insensitivity.
Emotionally unstable personality disorder involves emotional dysregulation and impulsivity, not a core empathy deficit.

Nursing Test Bank

Test Bank #1: RN Pharmacology Exams Test Bank #2: RN Medical-Surgical Exams Test Bank #3: RN Fundamentals Exams Test Bank #4: RN Maternal-Newborn Exams Test Bank #5: RN Anatomy and Physiology Exams Test Bank #6: RN Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Test Bank #7: RN Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Test Bank #9: RN Adult Health Test Bank #10: RN Dosage Calculation Test Bank #11: RN Community Health Exams Test Bank #12: RN Psychology Exams Test Bank #13: RN Nursing Care Of Children Test Bank #14: RN Foundations of Nursing Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Exam #1: RN Comprehensive predictor 2023 proctored exam Exam #2: Ati rn vati comprehensive predictor proctored exam Exam #3: Ati Rn Comprehensive Predictor Proctored Exam 2023 Exam #4: Rn Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Proctored Exam - St. Joseph Exam #5: RN Comprehensive Predictor Proctored Exam (National U CA San Diego) Exam #6: Ati rn comprehensive predictor 2023 retake proctored exam Exam #7: RN Hesi Exit Proctored Exam Exam #8: Hesi RN Exit proctored exam Exam #9: Hesi rn exit proctored exam Exam #10: Hesi Rn compass exit B proctored exam

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Antisocial personality disorder is a chronic psychiatric condition characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others. Clients often exhibit deceitfulness, impulsivity, irritability, and lack of remorse. They may manipulate others for personal gain and show poor compliance with social norms. Impulsivity, lack of empathy, and irresponsibility are core features. These individuals often fail to plan ahead and struggle with delayed gratification, making structured behavioral interventions and firm boundaries essential in care planning.

Rationale for correct answer

C. The client’s inability to delay gratification reflects the impulsivity and poor behavioral control typical of antisocial personality disorder. This trait contributes to risk-taking, noncompliance, and difficulty adhering to long-term goals, which must be considered when designing care plans.

Rationale for incorrect answers

A. Extreme anxiety is not a hallmark of antisocial personality disorder. These clients typically show low levels of anxiety and may appear indifferent or unconcerned about consequences.

B. Punishment rarely leads to rapid learning in antisocial clients due to their low sensitivity to negative consequences and lack of remorse. Behavioral change requires consistent reinforcement and structured consequences.

D. A strong sense of responsibility toward others is absent in antisocial personality disorder. These individuals often exploit others and lack empathy, making them unreliable in interpersonal commitments.

Take Home Points

Antisocial personality disorder is marked by impulsivity, lack of empathy, and disregard for social norms.
Clients often struggle with delayed gratification and may require structured, consequence-based interventions.
Unlike anxiety disorders, antisocial traits include emotional detachment and low remorse.
Differentiate from borderline personality disorder by noting the absence of emotional instability and fear of abandonment.

A. A client making sexual advances toward a staff member. B. A client telling a staff member that another staff member allows food in the bedrooms. C. A client verbally provoking another patient who is paranoid. D. A client refusing medications to receive secondary gains.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Limit setting is a therapeutic intervention used to maintain boundaries, promote safety, and reinforce appropriate behavior in psychiatric and behavioral health settings. It is especially critical when a client’s actions threaten physical or emotional safety, violate ethical standards, or disrupt therapeutic relationships. Limit setting must be clear, consistent, and enforced without punitive tone. It is not merely about correcting behavior but about protecting staff and clients while maintaining therapeutic structure. Immediate implementation is required when behaviors are intrusive, aggressive, or sexually inappropriate.

Rationale for correct answer

A. Sexual advances toward staff represent a boundary violation and pose a risk to safety and therapeutic integrity. These behaviors must be addressed immediately with firm, clear limits to prevent escalation and protect staff from harassment.

Rationale for incorrect answers

B. The client’s comment about food rules reflects manipulation, not a safety threat. While it may undermine staff consistency, it does not require immediate limit setting unless it escalates into disruptive behavior.

C. Provoking a paranoid patient is inappropriate, but the priority is de-escalation and redirection rather than limit setting. The focus should be on preventing conflict and ensuring both clients are safe, not enforcing behavioral boundaries.

D. Refusing medication for secondary gain is a form of passive resistance. While it requires therapeutic intervention, it does not pose an immediate safety risk or boundary violation that demands prioritized limit setting.

Take Home Points

Limit setting is prioritized when client behavior threatens safety, violates boundaries, or disrupts therapeutic relationships.
Sexual advances toward staff require immediate intervention to protect ethical and professional standards.
Manipulative or provocative behaviors may need redirection or therapeutic engagement but not urgent limit setting.
Medication refusal for secondary gain should be addressed through motivational interviewing and care planning, not immediate behavioral limits.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A defect in empathy or in the capacity to appreciate other people’s feelings, especially to comprehend how others feel about the consequences of one’s own actions, is the core feature of which disorder?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is caring for a client with antisocial personality disorder. What client characteristic should the nurse consider when formulating a plan of care?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Which client situation requires the nurse to prioritize the implementation of limit setting?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a client with borderline personality disorder. Which intervention should the nurse perform?

A client with borderline personality disorder receives the wrong meal tray for lunch and angrily states, “The next time I see the dietician, I am going to throw this tray at her!” What is the nurse’s most appropriate response?

Which of the following diagnostic criteria define borderline personality disorder? Select all that apply.

A nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder in an acute care facility. Which intervention should the nurse use to control the client’s suspiciousness?

A client diagnosed with a personality disorder states, “You are the very best nurse on the unit and not at all like that mean nurse who never lets us stay up later than 9 p.m.” This statement would be associated with which personality disorder?

A defect in empathy or in the capacity to appreciate other people’s feelings, especially to comprehend how others feel about the consequences of one’s own actions, is the core feature of which disorder?