Psych

The DSM-5 defines antisocial personality disorder as [a] pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, occurring since age 15 years, as indicated by three (or more) of the following:

Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors, as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest.
Deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure.
Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead.
Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults.
Reckless disregard for safety of self or others.
Consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations.
Lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another."

In "A Good Man is Hard to Find," The Misfit displays all seven of these behaviors, enumerated as follows:

Stealing the family car. Stealing the pants that are too tight. Instructing Hiram and Bobby Lee to execute all of the members of the family.
Creating a false sense of security to The Grandmother by apologizing for Bailey's outburst -- trying to make her feel comfortable before he ultimately took her life in cold blood.
The Misfit impulsively recoils like a snake and kills The Grandmother with three rapid gunshots through the torso. Immediately afterwards, he takes off his glasses and his eyes are reddened. This overkill and reaction suggests that he was totally caught off guard by her kindness, and that he did not plan to execute her in this manner.
The authorities suggest that The Misfit has killed his father.
The Misfit says he's seen everything, including at least instance where he "seen a woman flogged once." But never does he indicate remorse or empathy for those who he's seen suffer.
The Misfit tells the Grandmother that he's "been most everything" -- and he lists a number of jobs ranging from gospel singer to military service. This suggests that he has trouble sustaining work in any one profession.
The Misfit says "no pleasure but meanness." And goes further to suggest that if Jesus didn't raise the dead, then the best way to enjoy the time we have left on earth is to kill people or take their things.

Treatment:

KnowYourDisease.com suggests that "Antisocial personality disorders are considered one of the most difficult of all personality disorders to treat. People who suffer from the condition rarely seek treatment on their own and may only seek therapy when directed by a court. They may abuse or neglect to take any prescribed medications. In general, there has been little success in treating people with antisocial personality disorder, but there are approaches that may help alleviate Symptoms:

Medications. People with antisocial personality disorder often suffer from associative conditions such as anxiety, depression, other mood disorders and substance abuse. Doctors may prescribe antidepressant or antipsychotic medications to help alleviate these conditions. Unfortunately, many people with antisocial personality disorder don't take their medications as prescribed.
Psychotherapy. This therapy can help people with antisocial personality disorder develop appropriate interpersonal skills and instill a moral code. A critical part of this therapy is developing and maintaining a strong therapist-patient relationship. This can be challenging, as the person is often angry, emotionally unstable, interpersonally inappropriate and prone to impulsive behavior. In some cases, doctors suggest group and family therapy when individual therapy has not been successful."

A surprisingly effective alternate form of treatment that might be of value for this particular patient comes in the form of what is known as a Therapy Cat. While the idea might sound unconventional, Disabled World notes that "A therapy cat is defined as a cat trained to help ailing humans in a medically beneficial way to take advantage of the human-animal interaction for purposes of relaxation and healing. A therapy cat provides affection and comfort to people in retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, hospices, and other human service care facilities."

The Misfit seems like a strong candidate for this particular type of treatment because text evidence suggests that he has a fondness for this particular animal. While the notion of therapy cats is, admittedly, a "misfit" with much of conventional psychology -- it might be just what the doctor ordered!

After brutally executing the Grandmother in "A Good Man is Hard to Find," The Misfit's eyes become "red and defenseless looking," as instructs his accomplices to "Take her off and thow her where you shown the others." And immediately following this momentary show of vulnerability on the heels of his heinous crime, The Misfit is described as "picking up the cat that was rubbing itself against his leg" (O'Connor 13). The fact that this cold-blooded killer still shows kindness and affinity to this animal suggests that it may be a viable treatment alternative in helping him open up further through more conventional treatment methods like talk therapy.

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