Does anyone here fit the aspergers stereotype?
Oh wow. It seems that the stereotype varies! I think there's a different stereotype within the AS community, because there's more knowledge of asperger's. rather than being an organic stereotype, it's based on the most common symptoms. Typical aspies; we create stereotypes and base them in fact rather than prejudice, in order to function as a prejudice, even if we don't use it to be judgemental!
When I originally posted, I was thinking of the NT stereotype, but didn't consider that it might even vary from culture to culture, based on media representations popular.
A better post would have been, "what is the AS stereotype, and do you fit it?"
Contrary to my original post, it would seem that there are some versions of the stereotype I do fit (except for the maths and trains lol).
The original stereotype, which I wrongly believed to be the only one, is defined as: male, awkward, wears glasses, no friends, maths genius, obsessed with trains, utilitarian clothing, computer geek....
Love the responses so far thanks, everyone!
Like I said, people confuse stereotypes with symptoms. When people make a list of what stereotypes they display and don't display, and it starts off as some usual stereotypes like a math genius, then it starts to turn into all the classic AS symptoms.
Here's a list of AS stereotypes I DON'T display:-
-Cannot have conversations with people
-Has no self-awareness and does not care what people think
-Does not want any friendships
-Prefers to sit in a dark room with hardly any clothes on
-Fails to read body language
-Cannot express feelings to anybody
-Only interacts with people who share the same special interest
-Lacks common sense but is a genius at math, science and technology, usually where the special interests are based
-Never feels or displays emotion
-Wears glasses and has awkward gait
-Lacks empathy and interest with other people
I have none of those listed stereotypes.
Despite my social phobia, I still can have conversations with people and can connect with most people on a lot of things
I have self-awareness, in fact I have too much self-awareness, which causes social anxiety and paranoia, and I do care what people think of me
I do desire friendships and I feel happy when I have made another friend
I only like the room to be dark when I'm going to sleep, and I wear clothes too
I can read emotions and actions through body language
I can express my feelings to people, and my counselor thinks I'm good at it, which I have always felt
I have never met another person who shares the same special interest as me, but I still love to interact with people
I have common sense, but I'm poor at math, science and technology
I always feel and display emotion, in anything I feel and display emotion too much
I don't wear glasses and I don't have an awkward gait
I don't lack empathy and I do have an interest in people, I'm not all out for myself
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Female
Ways in which I do fit it:
Bad at carrying on a conversation
eccentric
fussy
obsessivley organised, likes making lists and putting thigs in alphabetical order
over-analyses
introverted
doesn't follow most social rules due to not seeing the logic behind them;
does not act 'normal' and has no desire to be;
hyperlexic
lack of 'common sense'
jumps up and down and flaps hands when happy
exhausted by being around people
dislike of loud noises and bright likes
hates crowds (in part due to mild claustrophobia)
Ways in which I don't fit it:
Creative and imaginative
artsy;
highly empathetic and in tune with other people's feelings;
picks up on social rules, even if in a shallow way rather than genuinley understanding
bad at following routines, let alone being 'dependant' on them. Ditzy, inconsistent, and impulsive.
pretty good at talking to people, if being 'good at talking to people' is defined as being able to make them like me. Charismatic.
doesn't think logically at all, puzzles and riddles hurt my head, and i'm far better if i can make things up as i go along.
doesn't particularly care for maths, science (well... psychology and neuroscience, i'm rather fond of), technology, or trains.
Good with abstract concepts, probably better than concrete ones.
Into fashion and highly image concious.
Good self-awareness.
can socialise 'normally' when i was to, that just isn't often.
Prefers fiction to non-fiction (seriously, that's an actual stereotype)
Laid-back and clueless; unlikely to even remember rules let alone insist on myself or others following them.
Good at working people out.
terrible at jigsaw puzzles
meltdowns never manifest as anger, and usually as bitter self-destruction
adores metaphors and sarcasm, has a hard time remembering that people ever do mean things literally, not the other way around.
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Genderfluid (please use neutral ( they/thempronouns), cognitive and motor dyspraxia, possible inattentive-type adhd, maybe schizotypal, atelophobia.
Not autistic at all, but brainweird in a lot of different ways and, besides, I like it here.
I definitely don't think I fit the so-called Asperger's stereotype. Although I'm good with numbers, I'm no math or science genius. I'm not sure if this is an AS stereotype or not, but I also care a lot about what others think and constantly seek other people's approval when I want to do something. I'm also not going into a career that is Asperger-friendly such as physics, chemistry, or computers. Not to mention I'm terrible at the first two! On the Myers-Briggs test, I always score ISFJ when most Aspies score INTJ or INTP. I also plan on going into social work, something most Aspies could never do!
Here's how I DO fit the Asperger stereotype:
I'm very much an introvert. Although I do like being with people, being around them after a long period of time is draining.
I have a lot of sensory issues, especially related to hearing.
All in all, I don't think there should be a stereotype for people with ASD! We are all different and unique in our own way.
<snip> stereotype asperger traits list
Thanks redrobin for doing your post like this. I read the thread and would maybe like to answer but I don't know what the stereotype actually is, so not possible for me to give a good answer. I will try answering this list as you have:
Great at putting together complex jigsaw puzzles. No
Loved stacking things as a child. I don't think so.
Love technical manuals and maps. Sure.
Love science. Not particularly. I like sci fi novels.
Hate eye contact and being in crowds. Eye contact- indifferent. I don't hate it, it just isn't something I feel a need to do as, I don't know, i don't understand the point of it. Yes, hate crowds.
Awkward. Probably.
Eccentric. Yes.
Great difficulty expressing myself. Yes
Was bullied at school. Verbally harassed. Not physically bullied. I was a bit above average size and I kind of enjoyed fighting when I was a kid.
Pedantic. Yes.
Aloof. I'm not sure I'm qualified to just myself accurately in this respect.
Difficulty making friends or being liked. Yes
Strange interests. I don't think my interests are strange
Can spend huge amounts of time engrossed in my interests. Yes
Don't like loud music because it overloads my ears. I like loud music when I want to listen to loud music.
Can't stand certain smells that many NTs like. Yes. Perfumes. Potpourri. Air fresheners.
Get headaches from certain chemicals that don't bother other people. I don't think so
Sensitive skin. Yes.
Irritable bowel syndrome. Not IBS specifically, but yes, digestive issues.
Really don't understand NTs and their social rules. Yes
Many basic social interaction protocols are not instinctive. Yes
Naturally clumsy. Yes
Slow at learning sports. I can learn them quickly enough. I'm just not very good at them.
Pretty bad at reading expressions on faces. I'm not sure
Was slow to learn hygiene. No
I don't learn the way other people do. I don't know. I guess not, as school was problematic for me in a way that it did not seem to be for the other children.
I didn't have bad enough tantrums or meltdowns to get identified as autistic during childhood. I grew up in the 80's. There was only classic autism, and generally only severe end of the spectrum was diagnosed.
Didn't have as noticeable stimming activity. I stim sometimes.
Learned language on time. Yes
Savantism I say no, but my family members insist otherwise. I still say no.
Generally quiet and don't talk loud. Yes
Not a male. I am male.
ChristinaTheHobbit
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: 12 Feb 2013
Age: 30
Gender: Female
Posts: 72
Location: The Shire
I am also borrowing Redrobin's list since I don't have very good words of my own to describe how I fit, or rather don't fit, into the stereotype.
Great at putting together complex jigsaw puzzles. No
Loved stacking things as a child. Not really, but give my patterns and shapes and I had a hayday. Was vocalizing complex patterns before I could talk.
Love technical manuals and maps. No
Love science. I used to like geology quite a lot, until I fell in love with history.
Hate eye contact and being in crowds. Very much so, but I have learned to mask it.
Awkward. You betcha.
Eccentric. Goodness yes, many people have commented on that.
Great difficulty expressing myself. Yes.
Was bullied at school. I was verbally abused and ostracized for over a decade. I was only physically abused for about two years.
Pedantic. Guilty as charged.
Aloof. I don't consider myself to be. If anything I can care too much.
Difficulty making friends or being liked. Yes, I was an extremely lonely child.
Strange interests. If a strange obsession with books and facts count, then yes.
Can spend huge amounts of time engrossed in my interests. Yes, I am hyperfocused and will obsess to the detriment of my health (not eating)
Don't like loud music because it overloads my ears. I have always born a special abhorrence for loud music.
Can't stand certain smells that many NTs like. Yes, perfume, body spray, and air fresheners being some examples of that. I do love the smell of spices though.
Get headaches from certain chemicals that don't bother other people. Yes
Sensitive skin. Sometimes.
Irritable bowel syndrome. Not formally diagnosed, but my doctor suspects it.
Really don't understand NTs and their social rules. Oh goodness yes!
Many basic social interaction protocols are not instinctive. Yes, I have to learn and relearn what most NTs find instinctual.
Naturally clumsy. Yes, an accident prone as a result. It is a running joke in the family (can anyone explain that idiom?)
Slow at learning sports. Actually, I am quite athletic and enjoy sports. I play softball on the collegiate level.
Pretty bad at reading expressions on faces. I'm decent enough to get by, but I am often clueless.
Was slow to learn hygiene. Unfortunately yes.
I don't learn the way other people do. I am mainly an autodidact learner, so I guess the answer would be yes. I don't really know what is considered normal for learning.
I didn't have bad enough tantrums or meltdowns to get identified as autistic during childhood. Yes, especially since my parents worked very hard with me to lessen the impact of my meltdowns and since I am prone to shutdowns instead.
Didn't have as noticeable stimming activity. When I was younger I would rock and flap my hands. I am letting this become more normal for me recently to help combat stress.
Learned language on time. Yes
Savantism I wish, but no I have never been overly gifted in one area. It's one thing that marks my personality, my determination to do my best even when I know I will never be good in the world's eyes.
Generally quiet and don't talk loud. Yes, many people have commented on it.
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A hobbit at heart trying to survive the modern world.
AAA- The androgynous and asexual autist
Eh... May as well use that list...
Great at putting together complex jigsaw puzzles - Yes, I'd like to put together Kinex if you call that a puzzle following the instructions since the age of 8. Patience and perseverance if anything.
Loved stacking things as a child - I used to like to stack LEGO's in a long line or pyramid if that counts...
Love technical manuals and maps - technical manuals though hard to read I like within my line of professionalism, usually system manuals and manuals on programming things. Maps not so much...
Love science - computer science, geography and the periodic table at the most...
Hate eye contact and being in crowds - Eye contact is painful but not impossible but I'm fine with crowds as long it is not too busy.
Eccentric - I don't attempt to follow social norms so maybe...
Great difficulty expressing myself - expressing emotion and feelings are of great difficulty, but I can communicate what I want and need with little issue.
Was bullied at school - I was according to others, but I was possible oblivious to being bullied, mostly isolated and left alone
Pedantic - I don't know, eh... Wikipedia is no help there either...
Aloof - yes, I'm quite reserved and is distant from physical and emotions...
Difficulty making friends or being liked - never made friends, never wanted friends but I am a likeable individual.
Strange interests - gaming, furry and specific character worship with imaginary friends... Then yes...
Can spend huge amounts of time engrossed in my interests - yes, if I'm not careful if engross myself too much, I can be self-neglectful
Don't like loud music - I always have to keep music low or loud enough to block out background sound.
Can't stand certain smells that many NTs like - most smells, scented aftershave, deorderant, perfumes, air freshener, spices, onions, garlic but unusually I like certain smells like exhaust fumes and other things like some glues. Otherwise all strong smells make me unwell.
Get headaches from certain chemicals that don't bother other people - yes, many chemicals are a trigger for migraines
Sensitive skin - very, I can't stand being touched that have not been preplanned or expected.
Irritable bowel syndrome - quite likely as I experience slower bowel transit and can go days without going despite a diet very high in fibre. I am also at risk of infestation such as threadworms
Really don't understand NTs and their social rules - yeah absolutely
Many basic social interaction protocols are not instinctive - yes, I Don't follow any Protocols and I can't do those automatically.
Naturally clumsy - yes, Dyspraxia is likely and balance was poor enough to need hospital and surgery.
Slow at learning sports. Slow at learning in general... Team sports are the hardest as there is a strong element of communication involved, otherwise I was never really interested in sports beyond the gym basics.
Pretty bad at reading expressions on faces - Very likely blind in this aspect, the subtle ones pass me by, but most I can't understand beyond happy, sad and angry.
Was slow to learn hygiene - yeah, it took years to understand as I have difficulty in feeling dirty. I'm my youth, I could go without washing hands after the toilet and not bathing for weeks if I was left to my own devices.
I don't learn the way other people do - I have a mixed textual, audial-visual and practical learning style. I can't learn from reading alone, I have to see how things are done. I have to take the text and put it into a real life scenario for it to stick. Observational don't work but I may have to use video to help with things, otherwise I have to learn by doing which I find is best in most contexts.
Childhood tantrums or meltdowns where not an issue, quite the opposite at the best of my knowledge as I had no energy and suffered with being obese. I could get angry rather quickly when my routine was broken.
Have mutiple and visible stimming actions involving the hands, face and legs. I also have uncontrollable neck and facial tics and mild variable verbal tics and stims consistent with Tourette's.
Learned language on time - yes, possibly earlier... Its a bit of an unknown otherwise...
Savantism - I'm gifted in my level if Information Communication Technology and have the potential to far exceed my current level if real life barriers and finance was not an issue, otherwise no...
Far too quiet for my own good
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"When you begin to realize your own existence and break out of the social norm, then others know you have completely lost your mind." -PerfectlyDarkTails
AS 168/200, NT: 20/ 200, AQ=45 EQ=15, SQ=78, IQ=135
StarTrekker
Veteran
Joined: 22 Apr 2012
Age: 31
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,088
Location: Starship Voyager, somewhere in the Delta quadrant
Don´t be so ridgid about it. Look at this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWJh2zAS1Uk
The combination can be anything, according to sex, age, personality and history.
The key feature seems to be poor social abilities.
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Femaline
Special Interest: Beethoven
Wait, what stereotype are you talking about?
There are lot of autism stereotypes
I just know some.
I am only good at some Math, meaning that I am fairly good at most algebra stuff but I suck at most geometry stuff.
I am only good at some science. I am very good at Earth sciences, but I struggle a bit with physics and a lot with chemistry.
I don't stay at home all day every day (some days I might never go out, but that doesn't happen very frequently, except during summer), and I actually do sport and excercise. I do karate.
I am not a straight-A student.
I don't really throw a trantum if someone touches me. At best I can freeze or try to retract.
My interests are not vacuum cleaners or trains (but trains used to be one when I was 4-5 for a while).
Oh, and I'm not a genius
These are those that I know and that I don't fit.
The others I know are either those I fit or that I can't remember
Male: No.
Glasses: No.
No empathy: No.
No imagination: No.
Frequent meltdowns: I have meltdowns, but only at home, and only rarely.
No friends: Not any more, but for a few years in primary school I had no friends.
Maths genius: Some people think I'm a maths genius. I'm don't.
Pedantic: Sometimes.
Awkward: Definitely.
Bad at sports: Yes.
Obsessed with maths/science: YES. Apart from chemistry.
Eccentric: Yes.
Doesn't like being touched: Definitely.
I was not a stereotypical Aspie as a child either, which is why I'm so surprised at how I got my diagnosis when I was only 8.
As a child I did dramatic play with everything I played with. When I played with my Barbie dolls I pretended they were high school buddies. When I played with my Thomas the Tank Engine trains I made social shenanigans go on between them. Even when I was at my grandmothers and the only toys she had there was a set of toy bowling skittles, and I even pretended they interacted with each other. I also could do dramatic play with toys with other children for hours too. And yes, I also engaged in imaginative play with other children too without any issues.
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Female
I don't fit the stereo-type either.
I can understand why many people on the AS like trains as:
1). They travel on a predetermined path. They cannot deviate from that.
2). They operate on a strict timetable, so when they are meant to be somewhere at a specific time they usually are.
Trains are predictable.
Never had a tantrum, or a meltdown.
More into ships, but love trains, and kinda like airplanes too.
Like numbers, but never got good grades in math.
Have been accused of being "like an idiot savant".
Didnt 'stack things' as a child, but I did go through a phase of building skyscrapers with Kenner Toys when I was a child.
Not exactly the Sheldon Leonard caricature of an aspie, but not exactly not that either.
Great at putting together complex jigsaw puzzles. True
Loved stacking things as a child. Still do.
Love technical manuals and maps. True
Love science. Definitly
Hate eye contact and being in crowds. Yeah, still hate it. But can 'hide' it.
Awkward. Definitly, hear this a lot.
Eccentric. Not really.
Great difficulty expressing myself. Depends to who, but in general, yeah.
Was bullied at school. Not really, everyone thought I was weird, but still liked me though.
Pedantic. Maybe a little bit, but not sure if this is because of my Asperger's ( I'm also intellectually gifted.)
Aloof. Yeah, but sometimes I force myself to participate in things, like when a lot of people are watching. But then I just get awkward.
Difficulty making friends or being liked. Not really, most of the time I automaticly get in to a group with nice people. (at school for example). But next to school, yeah.
Strange interests. Not really.
Can spend huge amounts of time engrossed in my interests. Yeah, can be talking to myself about this for 10 hours a day.. Never realised this is weird until I got my diagnosis actually..
Don't like loud music because it overloads my ears. True
Can't stand certain smells that many NTs like. Not really, but a lot of the times I can't stand certain smells that they don't smell. Because I can smell very weak smells. Not sure if this is a correct sentence.
Get headaches from certain chemicals that don't bother other people. Definitly.
Sensitive skin. Not really.
Irritable bowel syndrome. No.
Really don't understand NTs and their social rules. No, a lot of the times the things they do doesn't make sense to me.
Many basic social interaction protocols are not instinctive. True
Naturally clumsy. True
Slow at learning sports. I'm slow at learning the basics, but as soon as I get them down. I'm really quick in mastering it. Played basketball and football at a global level. After only two years of doing both.
Pretty bad at reading expressions on faces. I used to be, but I actually am a lot better at it now then most people.
Was slow to learn hygiene. No, I have kind of germophobia. Isn't officially diagnosed or something. But I definitly have traits.
I don't learn the way other people do. True
I didn't have bad enough tantrums or meltdowns to get identified as autistic during childhood. True
Didn't have as noticeable stimming activity. Not really, but I did have them. Just could hide them kind of.
Learned language on time. Yeah, I learned it pretty quick, could read fluently at the age of 2. And spoke 3 languages almost fluently at age of 4.
Not a savant. True.
Generally quiet and don't talk loud. True.
Not a male. I am a male.
I'm kind of like Sheldon Cooper. But more all around. I'm athletic, and play piano (got asked for Juilliard after 1 year of playing). I do have multiple interest, but medical science is my biggest one. I can learn pretty fast in general. Most people don't recognise my Aspergers. But as soon as I get in a unfamiliar situation, I'm screwed . But in general people think I'm weird.