Are autistic people more immature

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Not just socially but generally?

Mentally, socially, emotionally...in their hobbies, thoughts etc..

For example, an adult who still lusts over xmas and cartoons or wants to play in the park, visit zoos etc...rather than other 'adult' activities...Quite typical of autism/aspergers or not at all?

Also, sentence structure and word choices more childish, immature, slang etc...

Well, I think it's been said before that most people like to do these things (cartoons, zoos, etc). Perhaps it's just that if you're missing some social cues, you don't realize it's wrong and therefore broadcast it a bit more?

Just a guess.

I can only speak for myself, but I have always been immature in my tastes and hobbies but quite mature in judgment, understanding and language (I am articulate when I need/want to be, though I do lapse into slang etc).

Yes, immaturity is very common for auties/aspies. It's often a "red flag" for professionals. We have a developmental disability, which means that development (including emotional) is often very slowed.

I love Christmas, with a capital L. I also have the emotional development of a 16 year old, who has a mad crush, on The Kinks. (A bit of a time warp, there). I'd also love to get DVDs of the cartoons, that I watched, as a kid.

I haven't outgrown many things I enjoyed when I was a kid. I'm immature because don't feel comfortable going to bars and being around NT's. I still prefer to be in a pretty park playing on the swings in my spare time. I also love reading and drawing comic books, and many other things my parents consider to be immature. I also have little interest in sexual relations even though I have been active before.

I think there's some truth, as has been said, that says AS people appear more immature. The problem here however is that NT people will see that immaturity in a bigoted and wholly negative way.

I'd suggest that acting in an inappropriately juvenile manner is different from an AS person being their natural self. Another way of looking at it simply to say an AS person is naturally 'youthful'

Well if immature is running around, going to bars and raves, drinking and getting drunk, smoking the occasional joint and having sex with someone on the first, second, or third date, then people with AS generally aren't, and NT's generally are.

I think people just have a distorted perception of what is mature and what isn't.

I don't base maturity so much on likes and dislikes as much as I base it on ability to make sound life decisions and exhibit good judgment, and to that end, I think people with AS trump NT's

You also have to consider that many individuals with AS and autism have "a million monkeys on their back" so to speak. Family members, doctors, society constantly trying to force them to act a way counter to their natural wiring. Many of these individuals to not get the freedom they need to be themselves and many are stunted emotionally by overprotective parents who will not let their children grow up.

I have noticed this, aspies and auties tend to come across as a bit childish and younger. I recently bought this chimp cuddly toy and I've been playing with it and lying it on my bed and I named it, if that isn't immature I don't know what is.

In AS, the brain's Executive Function virtually stops (or significantly slooows) developing at or around adolescence - the Executive Fuction is involved in developing the ability to plan and carry out complex actions, such as buying a home or car, putting together a retirement plan, building a business, etc., as well as: situations where responses are not well-learned or contain novel sequences of actions, and situations which require the overcoming of a strong habitual response or resisting temptation.

Which is to say, basically that the parts of the brain that gradually turn one from a kid into a grownup are somewhat stunted - not nonexistent, but ret*d in maturation. So it is not uncommon for those of us with AS to be very childlike in many respects - this probably contributes to classic Aspie traits like Blunt Honesty (not knowing when others don't want to hear the truth); Lack of Empathy (being so preoccupied with our own interests, we don't notice when others need our support and interaction); Meltowns ( being overwhelmed by to much incoming sensory stimuli or social interaction or responsibility). In fact, I suspect it goes hand-in-hand with our basic sensory processing problems.

But 'immature' in the sense of being impudent, or bratty? I wouldn't think we're any more predisposed to that sort of behavior than anyone else. I do think we may be perceived that way by those who do not understand what's happening when we are being overwhelmed by our environment.




Since Hans Asperger frequently referred to his young diagnosees as 'Little Professors' specifically because of their broad vocabularies and proficiency with language, I would expect that 'immature' verbal communication would be the exception among those with AS.

I don't think it is a problem with executive function because even though I am immature in many areas, I can also develop novel plans and procedures to logically deal with diversely different problems. (I always have had empathy, but I do have sensory and other AS issues..) I do agree most of my behavior did not mature after I passed puberty, but I don't think they are much different than what I had as a child. The only difference is that I am exposed to more things as I age.

Lhristmas?

I think I am emotionally immature in that I get very hurt if someone I like says something spiteful or sarcastic to me, or is manipulative in ways I am too naive to expect. I also get very excited and happy over things like my favorite band. And I am 46...

But I'm not childish. I don't expect to get my way, nor am I spoiled or even very self-absorbed. And as far as word choices and use of language, I can be pretty sophisticated when the occasion calls for it (I'm a published author, though not of a literary work).

I'm not sure how bad my executive function is. My house is very messy, and I hate having to do tasks like call a plumber or whatever, so I suppose I'm fairly disorganized, but that's in part because I have chronic fatigue so it's difficult for me to get things done.

Exactly, agree 100%. Maturity is different between people. We're just being our normal selfs, but to an NT acting the way we do, liking the things we do appears to be immature to them. It's really all about perspective and who you ask.

I like many of the same things I've always loved since childhood; in many cases though, I enjoy them now on different levels than I did before.

I don't think it has anything to do with being less mature though; most folks I know say I'm one of the most mature people they know; yes, out of all their friends who drink, smoke, do drugs, make lame sex jokes that people in their '20s do, I--the guy who loves cartoons and toys--is the most mature one. Worth noting I can also offer up a "mean" conversation about economics, history, and similar topics.

Society thinks a lot of things are immature....yet half the things society deems "important" I consider stupid beyond belief..

My friends and family tell me "You are such a child" quite often. It's funny to me cuz it is true but, when I WAS a child, I acted like an adult! Hahaha I think I have regressed or something. Nowadays I get very excited to do childish things like go to the batting cages or go to a toystore. I still buy toys and stuffed animals and I have a penchant for the same colorful sneakers and cartoon T-shirts I see 12 year olds wearing.

I think I can be quite immature at times but I'm also mature at handling things like cleaning the house, paying bills, keeping things organized etc.