The difference between antisocial, asocial, and introverted
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary definitions of āantisocialā are (1) averse to the society of others, (2) hostile or harmful to organized society, especially being or marked by behavior deviating sharply from the social norm, (3) of, relating to, or characteristic of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) [1].
ASPD is more than just hostility towards others or deviating from the norm; it involves being so against society (as in, āsocial rules, customs, and ethicsā) that it makes life difficult for the person pathologized with it [2]. The apathy associated with ASPD is painful to exist with, people with ASPD often do not care about our own safety, and we are more likely to die by suicide than the average person [2].
The term āantisocialā cannot be separated from its context as a psychiatric pathology; up to 4%of people are diagnosed with ASPD [3] and are affected by the stereotyping, dehumanization, and carceral ācareā that comes with the diagnosis. As another example, even though āautisticā is just an adjective, it cannot be separated from the pathology of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The word āasocialā, on the other hand, means ānot interested in forming social groups or connections with othersā. People who are asocial do not necessarily contradict social rules, customs, and ethics, as the prefix āanti-ā would imply, but they simply donāt want to or donāt have the capacity to engage socially. It is not directly attached to the label of any psychopathology and has nowhere near the stigma or dehumanization that āantisocialā does.
People who are antisocial/have ASPD arenāt necessarily asocial; for example, we personally enjoy being in certain social situations that align with our morals (like queer bars, protests, and some online spaces). And people who are asocial arenāt necessarily antisocial.
Lastly, the term āintrovertedā generally refers to someone who prefers to spend time alone. Like the term āasocialā, an introverted person isnāt inherently antisocial, and vice versa. The terms asocial and introverted are very linked together, and are nearly synonymous. Most, if not all, people who are introverts are also asocial.
The point of this post is that you shouldnāt use the term antisocial when you mean asocial or introverted. The term antisocial is inherently tied to a pathology that comes with huge dehumanization and stigma, and those of us with the label of ASPD deserve language to describe our experiences.
