Q&A: Is Asperger’s Syndrome Just Our Society’s Way of Pathologizing Introversion and Intelligence?
Question by Ted: Is Asperger’s Syndrome just our society’s way of pathologizing introversion and intelligence?
It seems that most of the “symptoms” of this questionable diagnosis du jour are shyness, introversion, high intelligence, and things that go hand in hand with those characteristics. For example, I have read that shy people often do tend to be somewhat socially inept or unskilled – this was a personality theory textbook, making no reference to autistic spectrum disorders; intelligent, contemplative people usually have solitary hobbies, even unusual ones in place of partying. Is Asperger’s a valid disorder or just a way of explaining people with unpopular personality traits? Is it just the latest attempt by Big Pharma and Organized Psychiatry to cash in on suckers? And why is there no disorder involving traits found in loudmouthed, dimwitted jocks?
I’m aware that I come across as bombastic, but I’m trying to be provocative in order to evoke discussion.
Best answer:
Answer by yeaboy
get a degree – then you can talk about this without sounding like an idiot…
although it is a good question…
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