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Anti-social behaviour is often seen as public behaviour that lacks judgement and consideration for others and may cause them or their property damage. It may be intentional, as with vandalism or graffiti, or the result of negligence. Persistent anti-social behaviour may be a manifestation of an antisocial personality disorder.
However anti-social behaviour does not relate to people who are anti-society at all, but merely relates to people who oppose political systems, leaders, institutions or other forms of authority, and exists as anti-authoritarian and/or anarchist behaviour.
The term "anti-social" is often mistakenly used to describe someone who is introverted; anti-social people may also be extroverted. The counterpart of anti-social behaviour is pro-social behaviour, namely any behaviour intended to help or benefit another person, group or society.
Anti-social behaviour in the UK
In 2003, in an attempt to curb anti-social behaviour, the British government introduced the Anti-Social Behaviour Act. This introduced the Anti-social behaviour order ("Asbo"), a civil order that can result in a jail sentence of up to five years if broken. England has recently had the title of Europe's Worst Country for Anti-Social Behaviour.
The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 defines anti-social behaviour as acting in a manner that has "caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household" as the perpetrator.
See also
"Anti-social behaviour"