[The_little_didgee]

The internet is rife with the Asperger stereotype. It is also on television, books and in research.

This isn't reality.

The autism stereotype explained: Stereotypes of autism

What do you think of the stereotype?

[Pandoren]

I think when a work of fiction includes an autistic character, they do so to make a character that has different traits to other characters- something that makes them stand apart and be interesting. In order to be interesting, they have to be significantly autistic or have exaggerated or numerous autistic behaviours. Someone like myself, who is on the spectrum to a high functioning degree that my behaviour was caught eventually but I am "normal" enough to merely come off as "strange", would not make an interesting character and no doubt would itself be a misrepresentation of autism because there is such variety to be found on the spectrum- a character like myself would hardly challenge any issue found in more autistic people and would likely be accused of being "too normal" and not worth even labelling as autistic.

I think the main stereotypes are of a completely shut in, antisocial autistic child, usually with savant capacity, or with Aspergers I think most people would immediately think of the Big Bang Theory.

[yellowfrog268]

Pandoren,

I agree completely. For purposes of dramatic effect, characters are written as being more extreme in autism/asperger's traits.

I too am a very high functioning individual. You'll only see my quirks after a few interactions with me.

I recently watched Mozart and the Whale and was a bit disappointed with it as both lead characters appeared to be more autistic than asperger's. The movie is supposed to be based on the real lives of two people with asperger's and I'm wondering how much the film exaggerated the intensity of the lead characters asperger's traits.

[manwithnofriends]

I'd say these "fictional" works of autism don't make the general populace more aware of the disorder... they make them more ready to shun autistic people out of sight. So all you "abnormal" people, try to be as normal as possible. I will too

[Pandoren]

One thing that comes to mind is the representation of people with Tourettes Syndrome. Ask the average person what Tourettes is, and they will probably laugh and then tell you, perhaps with their own comic demonstration, that Tourettes is where you compulsively swear at people. That's what the media has done for Tourettes, because coprolalia is, of course, absolutely hilarious. I don't think I've ever seen a fictional character with non-coprolalia Tourettes. Soap operas are usually the ones to display "non-typical characters" and may do so under the guise of raising awareness but first and foremost... it is for ratings. Obviously.

[H3rmit]

Interesting article. I didn't realize the savant cliche' from Rainman was still being propagated all over the place so irrelevantly. Great movie, and too influential on the public lack of curiosity it seems.

I am surprised to see the following error in the article from NIH:

>"Tammet's autobiography clearly demonstrates why Asperger's syndrome is such an evasive concept."

That should be, of course, "elusive" rather than "evasive."

[The_little_didgee]

Yesterday, I had a discussion about the stereotype with a lady who works with people who have Asperger's syndrome. She told me no such thing exists. I agree.

Why do I agree? I am active in the autism community and have met a lot of people with it. So far, I haven't met anyone like Sheldon Cooper, from the show Big Bang Theory.

If you really want to learn about Asperger's talk to an individual with it. We are an accurate representation.

[The_little_didgee]

We are very interesting people, just not to the entertainment industry.

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by manwithnofriends

So all you "abnormal" people, try to be as normal as possible. I will too

No, and even if I did agree that would be impossible for me to live up to.

[annes3rdchld]

The only good portrayal I know of where aspergers is explicitly mentioned is Abed in Community. I can think of a few other instances with a good aspie character...but only in movies that never mention the word "aspergers." Some of these are "Waiting for Forever," "Unbreakable," Lady in the Water." I think in such cases a screenwriter or director had aspergers and intuitively wrote his own characteristics into a character.

[WePow]

It is VERY frustrating for me to see the stereotypes because that is what others think about instead of listening to me when I tell them that I am getting sensory overload or whatever. They ask me at work why I start to rock when stressed and I have let them know it is an autistic trait... only to have them tell me "You don't look like you have that..." URRRR! I am just trying to let them know that they don't need to keep asking about me and if I am ok.

We all have our own traits and combination of things. When I was a child, I spoke in monotone voice all the time until a teacher pulled me aside and TAUGHT me how to inflect my voice so people did not fall asleep listening to me talk at them. So yes, I sound neuro-typical now... but that does not mean I don't have that trait. In fact, in therapy I am able to let my guard down and not try so hard to fit into society and my voice goes right into monotone paced pattern. It actually starts to hyptonize my therapist and put him to sleep !!!!!

So yes, it bugs me that society thinks of Autism in solid colors rather than seeing a person for who the person is and just listening to us when we share that part of ourselves with them so they will understand whatever we need them to understand.

[rise__above]

Originally Posted by annes3rdchld

The only good portrayal I know of where aspergers is explicitly mentioned is Abed in Community.

I was going to bring him up. He's a great character and well written.

[The_little_didgee]

Originally Posted by WePow

It is VERY frustrating for me to see the stereotypes because that is what others think about instead of listening to me when I tell them that I am getting sensory overload or whatever. They ask me at work why I start to rock when stressed and I have let them know it is an autistic trait... only to have them tell me "You don't look like you have that..." URRRR! I am just trying to let them know that they don't need to keep asking about me and if I am ok.

I can relate to your frustration. I wonder what an autistic person is supposed to look like.

Originally Posted by WePow

In fact, in therapy I am able to let my guard down and not try so hard to fit into society and my voice goes right into monotone paced pattern. It actually starts to hyptonize my therapist and put him to sleep !!!!!

My psychiatrist nearly dozed off at my last appointment. I wasn't too happy.

[The_little_didgee]

Originally Posted by annes3rdchld

The only good portrayal I know of where aspergers is explicitly mentioned is Abed in Community. I can think of a few other instances with a good aspie character...but only in movies that never mention the word "aspergers." Some of these are "Waiting for Forever," "Unbreakable," Lady in the Water." I think in such cases a screenwriter or director had aspergers and intuitively wrote his own characteristics into a character.

Can accurate and explicit portrayals sell?

Thanks for the film list.

[scstepney]

I tend to just come across as strange or odd as well, so people don't think I have Asperger's, they just say I'm eccentric. However, I would like to mention something else. Although people do think of Sheldon on "The Big Bang Theory" when they think of people with Asperger's, it has never been said on the show that he has it. People assume it. The writers of the show say that they don't say that. They just call it him being Sheldon or "Sheldonisms". Abed on Community is a character written to have Asperger's. I'm not like him either. I have some social skills, it's just very hard for me. People don't think I have it because I'm an actor, but something clicks when I'm acting that doesn't click when I'm not that makes me able to become someone else on stage or film. Anyway, this is a very interesting discussion and I'm enjoying it.