Aspies and the Peter Pan Syndrome

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I'm female but I went through the list anyway and my ASD + an attention deficit with over-activity and impulsivity make me have these:

* Procrastinate
The idea of apologizing for inappropriate behavior is not an option.
* Have problems with authority figures
* Exhibit silly behavior


Anyway, I think Peter-Pan-Syndrome is made-up condition. It isn't medically recognised after all.

They all are, until someone proves a physiological cause. Or someone realizes that it's the same as some other "syndrome."

But some are more valid & useful than others. When you give something a name, it makes it possible to talk about it and figure out what it is. Like my little sister -- when thinking about it to myself (starting when I was 12) I called it a "too many mommies syndrome," and had a long, convoluted explanation, until I figured out that she was the family scape goat. My temporary name for it allowed me to figure it out and make connections. When I finally got there, it was actually pretty simple.

But yes, I suspect that the "Peter Pan" syndrome is just a garbage pail excuse to sell a book, but maybe not. (They sneered at the talk about Agent Orange for a while.)
"Inappropriate" is in the eye of the beholder. Why apologize when you're right?

i justy live a life thats mine and noone elses

In the story, Peter Pan refuses to grow up.
He isn't frightened of the future like Captain Hook.
Captain Hook is very aware of the future and the jaws of death (the crocodile).
Captain Hook can hear time ticking away: his mind is obsessively focussed on planning for the future.

Peter Pan lives in the present moment.
Essentially, he is always in the eternal "Now".

Peter Pan isn't worried about death or the future, because for him, the future never comes.

I don't know whether Peter Pan's view of the world could be called "ADHD" consciousness.
Living in the moment.

It's not that Peter Pan is "wrong", but that he has a very different mental operating system to that of Captain Hook. They have different ways of perceiving time. Perhaps Captain Hook would say that Peter Pan has "executive dysfunction issues" and "poor organisational skills".

Peter Pan's perception of time is useful for foraging and going on reckless adventures.

Captain Hook's is more useful for organising a crew, planning for a crocodile attack and keeping everything "ship-shape".

Peter Pan and Captain Hook have different life-styles, live in different environments and hence have different perceptions of time.

Peter Pan can act on the spur of the moment, whereas, Captain Hook has to plan things out. This gives Peter Pan the advantage over Captain Hook.

If there is a "Peter Pan Syndrome" could it be a difference in attention, a different perception of time?

Uh oh.

So doing weird walks, talking like a pirate and sneaking up behind people and going BOO is inappropriate behavior for a 52 year old computer professional?

There goes the best parts of my day.

Arrr! Blast ye, grown-up lubbers. <brushes parrot crap off shoulder>

What I've always read of Peter Pan syndrome isn't about being childlike, it's about people who rack up huge amounts of debt and live a party lifestyle and things like that -- as if they were typical nonautistic teens who discovered their mom's credit cards. When they talk about procrastination, it's not about autism or ADD, it's about wanting to party or have meaningless sex or something rather than work. I'm sure it's not impossible for an autistic person to live this lifestyle but there's no connection.

Yes, probably.

Most people are showing a herd-like behaviour, where you are expected to have a work, house, driving license, dog and so on at different stages in your life, and feel fulfilled by that inclusion. Aspies don't have that trait, and therefore less motivation to acquire certain behavioural patterns.

I got called Peter Pan when I was 6 years old. I've always hated change and I didn't want to go into grade 2. In fact every year I wanted to stay in whatever grade I was in.
And now, at 25, I don't want to work or live independently. Currently, other people don't think I am capable of it too.

I think that is dependent on what your 'special interests' are. Some people might be very interested in something 'childlike' for their entire life, while others are interested in 'grown up' subjects like politics or geology. I think Peter Pan Syndrome should only apply to Neurotypicals personally, I know people from my grade who were supposedly more 'mature' then I was in terms of communications in high school, and yet they're still living in the bar (what I refer to as 'the island of misfit children') while I'm getting a history major and working my ass off to live a normal life, because this is one of my special interests.

I want to have a work, and preferably one where I could use my talents.

You don't want to quit University too old.

And don't listen to people claiming that you aren't capable too. I am all for an extensive public welfare system, but sadly, bureaucracies today have intencives to claim that those falling in their grasp are incapable of living an independent life, in order for themselves to get a higher funding from the government.

I'd go so far as to say we live in a Peter Pan culture. Capturing our life in electronic media and wanting to live forever. Cosmetic surgery and Botex at age 20. A death grip on youth influenced by culture.

There are many elements of narcissim in the "Peter pan syndrome" and our society is as narcissistic as it has ever been. Aspergers seems to be quite a bit different than this in the sense that many with Aspergers have a gentle soul; the opposite of what underlies Narcissism.

As far as the Aspie connection, from the posts I read here, others may perceive some Aspies as looking and acting "Peter Pan like" because of their "domesticated youthful appearance and gender neutral qualities". I think nature may influence this more than nurture. Some of the traits listed in the book sound Aspie like, but, some don't to me. The ones that are Aspie like, may also be influenced more by nature than nurture.

My x-wife used to say I had PPS. That was back in the early 80's.

I'd say Michael Jackson definitely exhibited this. People in general thought he was a freak, but I have always related to him. I wish it were socially appropriate to never grow up. I love hanging out with kids and animals and goofing off. I love amusement parks. I'd build one in my backyard if I had the money.

Peter Pan Syndrome isn't a recognized psychological condition.

Whether someone is mature or not should be measured by what he/she has accomplished, not spasms of behaviour. If someone has a decent job, is independent, has a car and is capable of forming adult relationships, and especially be a good parent, then he/she is mature, even if he/she has the odd temper tantrum or a childish hobby.

I believe there are basically two kinds of Aspies:

1 - The most common kind is relatively mature but hopelessly introverted, i.e. the classic nerd.

2 - However, some Aspies (like me before my Autism dramatically improved) are quite extroverted, with fairly well developed social skills, but are extremely immature relative to their biological age. These Aspies are probably the nearest thing there is to real life Peter Pans. In fact, I often thought of myself, and have been described, as Peter Pan-like!

My wife read that book in the mid '80s and I took a look at it, but my own lack of growth did not stem from a lack of want.