Are autistic people more immature

Post Reply New Topic

People on the spectrum appear naive/childlike because of some subtle difference in the way we communicate and/or express ourselves. We're too honest. We don't put on a front. I don't know. I think people underestimate me.

I tend to idealize people who seem immature though. Too mature = boring/fake people.

Bluntly truthful, that's immature people say... I say the believing in fairy tales and hiding from the truth to make oneself feel better is immature. If you can't handle the truth, it's time you did grow up.

Only society defines what is a "mature" vs "immature" passtime. Society is generally NT's... thus their passtimes get defined as mature. There is nothing immature about liking something a child likes. A child likes going for a drive, and by that logic, an adult who liked driving would be immature. Not. Many "child-like" activities base themselves on learning, and that is why children are drawn to them, children seek knowledge, even if they do not realize it. Aspies, I think draw many of their obsessions from the desire to learn things. I won't say all obsessions are like that, they aren't, but many are.

Naivety is an interesting concept. Because we tend to the truth so much, and deceit bothers us for the most part we tend to be trusting, though many of us with trauma in our past are the opposite, and we don't seem naive at all. Social Naivety is another thing, of course we are, we realize there is a hell of a lot more important things to do with our time than sit around making idle chit chat about some bullcrap ball game, or the weather, which all you'd have to do is look outside and you'd know for yourself.

Perception does not always portray reality properly. Especially when the perception is that of someone biased to an artificially constructed normal.

Like I said...the idea behind the belief that we're "immature" is based on society's standards....and I barely trust those with my life as it is.

I can understand advanced ideas that folks in their 60s can barely seem to comprehend; and I don't just mean I can recite it, I can literally apply it to my own life.

Part of me thinks that the NT skill of socializing may be a "coping" skill that was developed early on to compensate for their inability to understand ideas on an advanced level that we're capable of. Basically, they'd bounce ideas back and forth off each other, and come up with something halfway decent.

As you know, we don't need to do that; we hear some ideas, and think about them, but then are able to form really advanced understandings from it on our own.

I don't think they're able to do that.

It's why I keep saying I honestly believe we're the next stage in man's evolution.

Yeah, immaturity is a part of being autistic/Aspergers. I still have some immature qualities that others might think are kind of immature (does enjoying Beavis and Butt-head at age 23 make me immature?), as well as not wanting to go with the crowd especially when my parents want to go out to eat (I kind of like doing my own thing), and reading comic books. I also enjoy The Beatles, Weezer, and some punk music. Another thing is obsessing over the same thing over and over again until I get tired.

Wow

I can't state enough how close this hits to home. Without sapping over my bad upbringing too much, all the reprimanding I've dealt with being accused of being childish and immature (even to this day) reaffirms my self-diagnosis of Aspergers. On that note-- I AM currently seeking out professional help-- diagnosis and therapy. My problem now is-- finding a way to explain to those around me the reason WHY I act, behave, and think the way I do. I've always said I had Peter Pan syndrome (eternal youth lol) and funny enough my physical appearance also leads people to assume I am much younger than I really am. I turn 32 next week but yet people STILL assume that I'm late teens early twenties, and when I actually force myself to shave it is difficult to convince people I'm over 21. And that's just based on appearance alone. These issues have made it extremely difficult to find and maintain employment, the longest I've held a job is approximately 8 months straight. I'm not saying that I don't have good work skills and ethics as I have extremely high intelligence-- I am extremely good at repairing ANYTHING from cars to computers, home and commercial electrical, I can weld, operate industrial equipment, and am extremely gifted with making music. I can play any instrument I get a hold of. But despite the fact that my WORK performance is beyond exceptional, my ability to "get along with others" eventually leads me to being relieved of my job, one way or another. I can't deal with confrontation, when someone yells at me I "retract into my shell" fast. Threats of violence distress me for days. I do believe that I CAN make it in the workplace provided it's an environment in which I am allowed to do my job without having to deal with the politics and drama of all the "normal" people. I have to admit that I have taken heavy offence to people's accusations of being childish and immature (I act the way I do because I know no different). Learning what I am now, I (kind of) see that they may have been right, at least in their own eyes. Now... I face the issue of dealing with it. My fiancee is not at all supportive of my "truth seeking" in this, coupled with the possibility that our son could also be affected is causing some serious tension which I am not 100% sure of being capable of dealing with in a healthy manner. I hope that her acceptance of this comes soon (I know I can't expect her to UNDERSTAND it).... I am pretty much my only advocate dealing with this. Being an adult the outside resources are extremely limited. Asking my family for help is futile as they believe this is "all in my head", which, in actuality, it IS... just like my fiancee's epilepsy is all in HER head. (You won't catch me actually telling her that though..... Not smart!)

No we're not!

That was a joke...you know how five year olds say that to be cheeky...

I can be immature at times. Sometimes I just say things without thinking and sometimes I'd rather just act like a child, although it's something that I have no control over. Other times I want to act more grown up and get rid of the child toys, while other times I hold onto them desperately.

Anyway, time to push to shopping trolley "vrooom vroooom, screeeeeeech". CRASH!

I have the lifestyle and overall mindset of an adolescent, and yet gaining spiritual wisdom is my highest aspiration.
So many of the things that stereotypical adults do and enjoy strike no interest in me. I'm here on this earth as a childlike observer of beauty and wisdom. Or so I like to think.

I've never had anybody tell me to act my age except for once from what I can remember. If anything, I'd say I actually act older than I am, in the "little professor" sort of way. Unlike most teenagers, I'm not all about going out and having fun, I'm usually calm but serious, like captain Kirk. Emotionally, that's a totally different story, I get easily upset over little things, but I hide it until I no longer have to. I have control over myself in that respect. Socially, I'm probably half my age, as I've never had a girl before and I don't go to parties or drink or any of that other stuff. But that can be considered a lifestyle choice, which it is.

I'm extremely immature..............

I don't believe that autistic people are necessarily immature. Rather, they don't really "get around" or have experiences like other people their age (because they are completely isolated), so their mindset doesn't change as they get older. That's why you see some Aspie teens who prefer to stay at home watching My Little Pony instead of drinking and trying to get laid like other people in high school. As a result, the parents try to shelter their children even more because they don't want them to get hurt or taken advantage of.

No if anything we are MORE mature:
You might be scratching your head but I'll explain,

Alot of immaturity is derived from social problems between NT's, male NT's are so damn competitive, NT females are so jealous at times, they they do stupid and mean and immature things to each other to hurt each other and then get revenge.
Not saying this never happens to Aspies, but since we are less extraverted, we are generally not inclined to get caught up in all that bitchy drama crap.
We are also not likely to follow the crowd, and can make open-minded and level headed decisions.

Also there is NOTHING wrong with liking cartoons and holding onto childhood memories, I am in some cases like a child, but I am also responsible, reliable, and educated. I am not inferior to NT's at all, I just think differently