In 1944 a Viennese pediatrician named Hans Asperger conducted a clinical research trial involving 200 children in which four boys manifested traits associated with autism but had normal cognitive functions and language development, yet significantly lacked interpersonal skills. He had classified their behavior as autistic psychopathy and detailed that it was responsible for their idiosyncrasies such as unreciprocated nonverbal communication, self-imposed isolation, and specialized knowledgeability in distinct interests that made them appear as “little professors.” Following Hans Asperger’s death in 1980, British psychiatrist Lorna Wing wrote a disquisition in 1981 that used the term “Asperger’s Syndrome” which was consequently popularized in
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It is characterized primarily by an inability to effectively socialize and repetitive behavioral patterns. Affected individuals often have a variety of characteristics that are exclusively psychological. For instance, “aspies”, may have alexithymia which poses a challenge in interpreting and distinguishing others’ emotions through nonverbal cues like facial expressions, tone of voice, or gestures and may come across as apathetic as a result of failure to appropriately react. Additionally, common characteristics impacting social interaction include, eye contact aversion, pedantic speech with awkward intonation, strict adherence to routines to maintain a comfortable sense of sameness, clumsiness, obsessive preoccupation with certain topics or objects marked by exceptional intensity, and cyclic actions known as stimming. Given the meticulous nature of aspies, they are prone to acute sensory overload and can become easily overwhelmed by unpredictable situations leading to a meltdown where they temporarily lose control of their behavior. Correspondingly, they are 65% more vulnerable to depression and anxiety, along with OCD and …show more content…
General public awareness circulates valuable information and dispels myths surrounding the misconceptions about those affected by said disorder. Specifically, in the Netflix TV series “Atypical”, it revolves around a main character, Sam, depicted with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is alluded to being Asperger’s syndrome (AS). In each episode the viewer witnesses Sam’s own individualistic normalcy as he navigates through the complexities of everyday life; a reality that fellow aspies can relate to. A show gaining such attention can shed light on the autism community, advocate for further research and treatment options, and overall normalize the discussion on mental disorders and promote the acceptance of
It is characterized primarily by an inability to effectively socialize and repetitive behavioral patterns. Affected individuals often have a variety of characteristics that are exclusively psychological. For instance, “aspies”, may have alexithymia which poses a challenge in interpreting and distinguishing others’ emotions through nonverbal cues like facial expressions, tone of voice, or gestures and may come across as apathetic as a result of failure to appropriately react. Additionally, common characteristics impacting social interaction include, eye contact aversion, pedantic speech with awkward intonation, strict adherence to routines to maintain a comfortable sense of sameness, clumsiness, obsessive preoccupation with certain topics or objects marked by exceptional intensity, and cyclic actions known as stimming. Given the meticulous nature of aspies, they are prone to acute sensory overload and can become easily overwhelmed by unpredictable situations leading to a meltdown where they temporarily lose control of their behavior. Correspondingly, they are 65% more vulnerable to depression and anxiety, along with OCD and …show more content…
General public awareness circulates valuable information and dispels myths surrounding the misconceptions about those affected by said disorder. Specifically, in the Netflix TV series “Atypical”, it revolves around a main character, Sam, depicted with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is alluded to being Asperger’s syndrome (AS). In each episode the viewer witnesses Sam’s own individualistic normalcy as he navigates through the complexities of everyday life; a reality that fellow aspies can relate to. A show gaining such attention can shed light on the autism community, advocate for further research and treatment options, and overall normalize the discussion on mental disorders and promote the acceptance of