This is a thread about Asperger's syndrome. It is widely misunderstood. There is a wonderful synergy in the field of social robotics involving Asperger's syndrome. Aspergeans and other autistics are used to help test the design and effectiveness of social robots. I used to be involved in the design of software personalities for specialized social robots when I worked with roboticist Dr. David Hanson. These robots are used in universities for basic social robotics research, and also for research into therapeutic social robots for autistics. The reason for all the Aspergeans and Autistics in the field is that social robots must overcome the problem of the "uncanny valley" in order for the interaction to seem reel. Aspergeans, especially, are useful because they basically suffer a mirror neuron deficit which leads to the difficulty socializing. But in order to function socially at all, Aspergeans or "Aspies" as some prefer to be called, process their social cues in the neocortex, i.e. not automatically, as do "Neurotypicals", as Aspergeans like to refer to everyone else. Aspergeans must do consciously, what Neurotypicals do unconciously. Thus, Aspergeans, though handicapped in many ways, tend to notice aspects of human behavior that are often invisible to Neurotypicals. Aspergeans provide what philosophers refer to as the Philosophic ladder. Disabled World - Disability News for all the Family: http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/article_2086.shtml "Asperger's syndrome has probably been an important and valuable characteristic of our species throughout evolution," (Attwood, 2006, p. 2). And I would add another famous character, supposedly from history. Jesus.* *---This last bit is likely to be somewhat controversial here. Please try not to overreact. The list should also include Charles Darwin. And Isaac Newton. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/he...st-claims.html http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/...me/ba-p/379141 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histori...dered_autistic I remember reading somewhere that Newton died a virgin. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/5274.php Here is advice for parents of Aspergeans: http://www.yourlittleprofessor.com/benefits.html Check out: http://www.wrongplanet.net/ to get an idea of what life is like for Aspergeans and what Aspergeans think of everyone else in the world. ---FutilitistPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Just a note in passing: You might not be aware that the label "Asperger's" is no longer considered a separate diagnosis. Those who display that rather broad grouping of characteristics are now placed under the general label of "Autistic."
The inclusion of Asperger's syndrome in the autistic spectrum is, and has always been, controversial. It is still clinically diagnosed separately. ---FutilitistPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
No, it most certainly is not. You haven't been keeping up to date. Here's one source:http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/201...pped-from-psychiatrists-diagnostic-guide?lite And here's a quick quote from that article: "The now familiar term "Asperger's disorder" is being dropped. And abnormally bad and frequent temper tantrums will be given a scientific-sounding diagnosis called DMDD. But "dyslexia" and other learning disorders remain. The revisions come in the first major rewrite in nearly 20 years of the diagnostic guide used by the nation's psychiatrists. Changes were approved Saturday. Full details of all the revisions will come next May when the American Psychiatric Association's new diagnostic manual is published, but the impact will be huge, affecting millions of children and adults worldwide. The manual also is important for the insurance industry in deciding what treatment to pay for, and it helps schools decide how to allot special education." And note that was last Saturday, not today.
On Channel 7 news last night they said the alleged shooter Adam Lanza had asperger's syndrome. However I haven't seen anything in writing that confirmed that statement. This is the first time I've ever heard that someone with asperger's could become violent.
Okay this article make's reference to asperger's syndrome. Portrait of a killer: What drove Lanza to embark on his murderous spree? http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...to-embark-on-his-murderous-spree-8420460.html
Why should Asperger's be on the autism spectrum? Also from http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/201...pped-from-psychiatrists-diagnostic-guide?lite And what is the case for putting Asperger's on the spectrum? The news stories seem a little vague. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123527833 Sorry, I had to repeat that. It made me laugh. I mean if the Lord says it, it must be true!Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! But then, off to the left side, I see this barely visible box of type (like, 50% grey on white, look at the article to see what I mean): (* emphasis obviously mine!) Yep, there's the answer, I'll bet. Money. Politics. So, what exactly is the scientific case? ---FutilitistPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
And John Wayne Gacy painted clown pictures. So what?Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! ---FutilitistPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Hopefully you were sharp enough on that last quote to notice it was an "ALSO" use (the reference to insurance) - and NOT the primary purpose of the DSM.
Why put Asperger's on the autism spectrum? Dude, I am sharp enough to notice that you're dodging! So, what exactly is the scientific case for including Asperger's on the autism spectrum? ---Futilitist
I'm not dodging anything - what's your problem?? I don't claim to be a psychiatrist. <shrug> But I do keep current on just about ALL the news of every type.
Just feeling a little jumpy these days. Sorry 'bout that. Don't you think it is interesting the way the articles are written? They really don't give any good explanation for the change at all. I still think it is about health care costs. That makes some sense. I couldn't find another reason, either. ---FutilitistPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
How about this? Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger's syndrome or Asperger disorder, is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome (emphasis added) And that is ignoring the part about "autism spectrum disorder". Obviously AS shares significant diagnostic criteria with autism. That is very typical of DSM changes.
Put it on the spectrum if you want, I don't care. I didn't start this thread to argue about Asperger's. Why is that? ---FutilitistPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Then you probably should not open with a completely unsupported list of speculated Aspies. Since it is difficult to define objective criteria for what a mental disorder is, the contents of the DSM are the result of a majority vote of the APA. - http://hamsnetwork.org/dsm/ It is somewhat like expecting a good explanation for why a particular president was elected. You would have to poll voters for an explanation, and it is not likely to be very concise, uniform, or satisfying.
The list is supported in the article. Don't tell me how to write my original post. This is a thread to talk about Asperger's generally. I included lots of angles on the subject, not just famous people. Go argue with someone else. ---FutilitistPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
What does anyone think of this part of the original post? ---FutilitistPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Actually, I think anyone with any inclination for critical thinking should be able to do what people with Asperger's are here said to do. Also, when one is dealing with difficult people situations at work, in the family etc. and wishes to change that, such as learn conflict resolution skills and such, then one has to learn to consciously observe and analyze human behavior and then make changes to one's own verbal and physical behavior - ie. turn off the auto-pilot and flay manually. There is a fashionable term in psychology nowadays - mindfulness. It has a range of meanings, and one of them is to actually pay attention and notice what is going on, turning off the auto-pilot. So in one sense, people are basically taught to do what some autists have been doing anyway.