STAR TREK AND MENTAL DISORDERS
by James Huston
All the races and cultures in the Star Trek universe can be related to the human race in that they each stress individual aspects of humanity. Another way of putting it is that each race is predominantly occupied by one human mental disorder.
The Aspy Vulcans (Truly from another planet)
The First disorder is that of Autism, more specifically Asperger’s Syndrome. The lack of social skills, varying amounts of emotional disassociation, the ability to hyper focus on various tasks, and of course the need to take things literally i.e. logically are all traits attributed to the high functioning autistics. Quite logically one could therefore deduce that the entire Vulcan race suffers from the mental ailment of Asperger’s Syndrome.
The Snap Decision Clingons (Don’t f**k with them)
Clingons are known for their pride and worship of honor. This in itself is a different art of human culture relating to bishido or a code of chivalry. The disorder that the Clingons suffer from is Bipolarisim. They have their highs and lows, and little times there in betweens. They are prone to anger at the gravest insult or the simplest of mistakes. They are also relatively unorganized as compared with the rest of the star trek federation. At times they are as compulsive about having a good time as they are likely to snap and rip some ones head off. In short their emotions are extreme and uneasy to predict.
The Omnipotent Q (you’d hate them too)
Perhaps one of the easiest races to stigmatizes are the Q. Yes, they have their problems! These creatures that are like gods care little for anyone else but themselves. In their highly developed state they seem to have misplaced the ability to empathize for other’s feelings. In humans this disorder is known as sociopath. Accompanying the inability to care for others is the feeling that everything revolves around them. They effectively claim they control the entirety of existence and that all other life forms are beneath them.
The Cybernetic Robot (a lovable cousin to the Vulcan)
Like the Vulcan’s the cybernetic life forms seen through out star trek (in particular Data) seem to suggest an advanced form of Aspgers Syndrome. Not only were these machines logical, but they lacked all emotions entirely. On the other hand Data’s brother Lore was an illogical off shoot of this rule and seem to relate more to the Q.
In Conclusion…
The larger picture here is that in all science fiction though we try to create aliens and tells stories of completely foreign places we are still simply writing from what we know. It should also be found interesting that I myself always identified with the Vulcans and commander Data. In my late teens, after having established my opinion, I was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. I also know some one who identified most with the Clingons. It later turned out that he as well was bipolar. As the old adage goes like attracts like, and that could be one of the arguments for why science fiction writers actually just mirroring humanity in their alien cultures they create.
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njnjnknk
23 Oct 2009, 2:56 pm
I used to get called "Spock" or "Professor" in my teens.
