Asperger's Syndrome

Discussion in 'Human Science' started by Futilitist, Dec 16, 2012.

  1. Futilitist This so called forum is a fraud... Registered Senior Member

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    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.


    ---Futilitist

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    Last edited: Dec 16, 2012
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  3. Read-Only Valued Senior Member

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    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."
     
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  5. Futilitist This so called forum is a fraud... Registered Senior Member

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    The inclusion of Asperger's syndrome in the autistic spectrum is, and has always been, controversial. It is still clinically diagnosed separately.

    ---Futilitist

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  7. Read-Only Valued Senior Member

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    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.
     
  8. Syne Sine qua non Valued Senior Member

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    This thread is mostly Asperger apologetics. Do not expect any rational discussion.
     
  9. KilljoyKlown Whatever Valued Senior Member

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    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.
     
  10. KilljoyKlown Whatever Valued Senior Member

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  11. Futilitist This so called forum is a fraud... Registered Senior Member

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    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!

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    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?

    ---Futilitist

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  12. Futilitist This so called forum is a fraud... Registered Senior Member

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  13. Read-Only Valued Senior Member

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    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.
     
  14. Futilitist This so called forum is a fraud... Registered Senior Member

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    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
     
  15. Read-Only Valued Senior Member

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    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.
     
  16. Futilitist This so called forum is a fraud... Registered Senior Member

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    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.

    ---Futilitist

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  17. Syne Sine qua non Valued Senior Member

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    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.
     
  18. Futilitist This so called forum is a fraud... Registered Senior Member

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    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?

    ---Futilitist

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  19. Syne Sine qua non Valued Senior Member

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    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.
     
  20. Futilitist This so called forum is a fraud... Registered Senior Member

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    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.

    ---Futilitist

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  21. Futilitist This so called forum is a fraud... Registered Senior Member

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    What does anyone think of this part of the original post?

    ---Futilitist

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  22. wynn ˙ Valued Senior Member

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    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.
     
  23. Beer w/Straw Transcendental Ignorance! Valued Senior Member

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    Are people with Aspergers superior?
     

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