“ABLE to act witty, cunning and charming, good at flattery and manipulating others’ emotions, lie, steal and fight often.”
These are symptoms of anti-social personality disorder (ASPD), but a psychologist said that these could also be the characteristics of people engaged in corruption.
Dr. Angela Aida Halili-Jao, adult and child psychiatrist of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), said that corrupt officials may very well be suffering from ASPD because they do not feel guilt when they lie, cheat or steal.
“People engaged in corrupt activities usually have anti-social personality disorder. They rationalize their deceitfulness and they divert funds for their personal advantage,” she told The Manila Times recently.
Jao said that engaging in corruption is considered an anti-social act “done with an intent to give some advantage inconsistent with one’s official duty and the rights of others.” She added that ASPD is “a mental health condition in which a person has a long-term pattern of manipulating, exploiting, or violating the rights of others.”
A person with antisocial personality disorder may repeatedly break the law, disregard the safety of self and others, lie, steal, and fight often, not show guilt or remorse, and are often angry or arrogant.
Humans not naturally corrupt
Recent history has witnessed how the Philippines earned the reputation of being corrupt, a malady that has greatly eroded the people’s trust and confidence in government.
The surfacing of several whistleblowers who claim to have witnessed anomalies committed during the past regime have somehow bolstered the belief that corruption is so ingrained in the system. Whistleblowers come in different personas, a state auditor, an ex-army officer and even a former election supervisor.
The latest Asian Intelligence report released last March by the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, Ltd. (PERC) ranked the Philippines as the third most corrupt among 16 Asian economies with a score of 8.9, ten being the worst. The country had a score of 8.25 last year.
So are Filipinos naturally corrupt?
Dr. Halili-Jao points out that while human beings are not innately inclined to engage in corruption, there are certain persons who abuse their positions “because of the need for power and money.”
“I don’t believe all Filipinos are corrupt. There are just certain persons who are in the system. When the majority of people operate under a corrupt system, individuals may have no incentive to try to change it or to refrain from taking part in it,” she said.
Even ordinary people can be corrupt.
“People who are in the lower strata may also become corrupt. Corruption may be present in developed and developing countries, in the bureaus of public or private sectors, and even in nonprofit or charitable organizations.”
ASPD inherited
“The cause of antisocial personality disorder is unknown. Like most mental health issues, evidence points to inherited traits. However, dysfunctional family life also increases the likelihood of antisocial personality disorder,” Dr. Halili-Jao said.
No studies directly attribute corruption to any type of mental illness. And though the cause of ASPD is unknown, the doctor said, corruption is not an innate behavior but ASPD “may be hereditary.”
“A familial pattern is found in antisocial personality disorder. This disorder is five times more common among first degree relatives of men with the disorder,” she said.
Dr. Halili-Jao said that it is hard to say if corruption as a trait is hereditary or not. She said that environmental factors as well as inconsistent and inappropriate discipline and inadequate supervision during childhood also play a role.
She said that ASDP is a “grave, permanent and incurable” condition. Those suffering from ASDP “may become anxious and turn to substance abuse. They also become depressed or even suicidal or violent.”
