Merusault From The Stranger Suffers From Antisocial Personality Disorder

Patient 1: Meursault

            The justice department has recently assigned me the task of evaluating certain prisoners. During my evaluation of Patient 1, otherwise known as Inmate 23232, I recognized that he exhibited signs of a personality disorder. Through an extensive network of interviews, along with countless observations, I have deduced that Patient 1, Mr. Meursault, suffers from Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD). Unfortunately, this disorder has not only been afflicting Mr. Meursault for a while now, it has also been the cause for his imprisonment.

            In order for one to understand this diagnosis however, it is imperative to understand the symptoms and signs of ASPD. Antisocial Personality Disorder is a “personality disorder characterized by [the] disregard for the feelings and rights of others” (Turkington). Although this disorder begins to develop during the adolescent years, I could not find an adolescent connection for Patient 1 due to the absence of information about Meursault’s childhood. What I am basing my judgment off of, however, is the signs and symptoms that he displayed during our interview. Those who suffer from ASPD are typically unable to retain relationships with other people, are also diagnosed with ADHD, are apathetic, and are irritable and aggressive. Via the interviews with Meursault, I learned that Patient 1 exhibits all of these symptoms, and consequently suffers from Antisocial Personality Disorder.

            First and foremost, Mr. Meursault is unable to follow through with his family responsibilities and therefore is unable to maintain relationships with others for an extended period of time. Though through an interview with Mr. Meursault’s neighbor, Salamano, I learned that Meursault sent his mother away because of his financial problems, I also learned through an employee at the nursing home that Patient 1 “didn’t know the exact” age of his own mother (Camus 16). Meursault’s lack of knowledge with respect to his own mother’s age is evidence that Meursault is unable to maintain relationships with others. Meursault’s statement to his judge strengthens my observation:  “Maman and I didn’t expect anything from each other anymore” (88). Considering that ASPD is characterized by a patient’s “failure of job and family responsibilities,” Meursault clear negligence of his family is an obvious sign of his disorder (Turkington). Furthermore, Meursault’s inability to maintain a relationship is extended to all aspects of his life. For example, via an interview with a prison guard, I learned that Meursault craved for a woman while he was in jail, but not specifically for Maria (Camus 77). He therefore cannot maintain a relationship with anybody. In sum, Meursault’s inability to maintain any relationship, along with his lack of responsibility with respect to his family, highlights a very important sign of ASPD.