Why do we look younger?

Post Reply New Topic

Is it possible that our naive traits make us seem younger? I mean I agree with you both of the two aspies I know look very young, I myself look very young as well, but is it possible this plays a role?

well Im 30 and people are always thinking that me and my 13 yr old are sisters

I suggest part of the answer may be in hormones. Domesticated features bring about the appearance of extended youth through neoteny.


http://www.neoteny.org/

This is an interesting site, with some theories regarding autism and neoteny, that may be relevant to the issue of why some autistic individuals have youthful or neotenous features.

It sounds reasonable to me that lack of expression could result in less wrinkles, but it seems to go further than just a lack of wrinkles.

I haven't really seen any hard scientific evidence to support greater domesticated features in those with autism, but I think that may be, in part, because the focus of research to date has for the most part neglected targeting the population of individuals diagnosed with Aspergers.

That's just anecdotal opinion though, based soley on my personal experience.

I look very young too. I´m 33 and most people think I´m around my early 20s. I´m happy with that actually , no wrinkles, no cremes, etc.
I think it has also to do with the mental attitude of being naive, innocent. Soul and body are connected. I´m understanding this better now since I started with Yoga which I recommend to everyone here .

I won the bouncing baby competition for 15 years on a trot. No seriously though I get sick of people telling me that I look younger because I don't think I do. I think the person who said about the naivety making us seem younger has a good point.

I'm 14 and I'm told I could easily pass for 17.... my height is the only issue.

So I'm kind of the opposite, I look older than I am..

_________________
I am a completely normal joyous bundle of infinite happiness

oh and I am very cynical and sarcastic.

You can leave me a PM if you wish, I will most likely get around to responding. And if I don't you can feel free to despise me as a human being.

I never really thought that it could be something that we have in common. I'm 27 and everybody at work thinks I'm between the ages of 19-22

Interesting topic.

Growing up, I was always tall for my age and people thought I was older than I really am. Right now I'm 37, and been told I look like I'm in my mid-20's. I was at an school meeting for my daughter and one of the specialists there (we've never met prior to the meeting) thought I was my daughter (she's 14). I thought, must be some older looking students in this building!

And then the other evening, I was at the supermarket, waiting for my kid to take care of some business at customer service and the security guard was eyeing my bags that had cake pans and asked who was baking a cake. I said, my daughter, and I kind of nodded towards the CS booth. He had a strange look on my face and said I must have had her when I was really young. I said, not really, at 22, he was shocked! Said I look like I'm in my 20's.

I've been told my 32 year old sister looks older than me, but she isn't an older looking person. I think she just looks more mature than me.

Last night I got acquainted with a guy who was in his late 20s and looked around 17, then I thought about this thread on the forum, as I got to know him, I noticed that he has an awquird body language (just like me) and that he was a bit insecure. After was he told me he was a scientist. Then I thought everything is there, this guy defenetly has autism.

Probably genetics.

They ask me what grade I am in, sometimes. Then I tell them that I have masters degree and they are like ''whaaat?!'' Did you skip grades? (I didn't).

I always looked younger and now at 45 and retired I get real funny looks' when I tell people my real age and status. Some have assumed that I am 15 or more years younger. A Social Worker I speak with at the VA assumes that I have Aspergers Syndrome. Okay so maybe it is a chemical or genetic imbalance that makes us look younger. Maybe we are part of another level in evolution. As I recall the most awkward incident that occurred to me was during the 9-11 Emergency. I had been dismissed by my SGT to go get some lunch and I was enroute to a nearby fried chicken place and this woman stopped me and asked my age and commented that I looked not more than 15 and wanted to know what a kid like me was doing in uniform. She was totally shocked when I told her I was 35. I don't think she believed me. Of course had I really been a 15 year old kid in uniform I doubt I would have revealed my real age because I may have gotten court martialed over it.