Why all the negative thinking?
I have heard and read a lot about
Issues with theory of mind,
Weak central coherence (wcc) and
Issues with executive functioning.
My first thinking is that WCC is just one the teories. Gestal perception is another way of talking about it but it is not that common, I think?
Anyway, why do experts speak about this is mostly a negative way? Are there not always to sides to everyrhing?
And why do many professionals just accept wcc theory? Are professionals seldom to be trusted?
Yes, but I think most professionals see the autistic as a diagnosis, instead of as people, so the autistic become a problem for them to solve. They say autistic people have theory of mind issues, but NTs have just as much difficulty understanding autistic people. This is a theory of mind issue. Or, more accurately, evidence of differences in communication and expression.
They also say autistic people like rigid, ritualistic behavior. But, I think this is because they see forms of pleasure which are (yes) repetitive, but also undesirable to them. The need to make small talk and say hello and goodbye is rigid and ritualistic to me, but NTs are less likely to see it this way because they enjoy these behaviors.
emphasis on "theory" in each perspective or potential description of autistic function. We are in our infancy in the understanding of autism today, but almost 100 years ahead of where we began study and attempts to define. More information is being uncovered/discovered almost daily due to new scientific tools to use. I look forward to the future when things become better understood, but am encouraged by the new understanding that seems to be developing even in the past 5 years since I began to study about autism. Diagnosis today still depends on the education, skill, and experience of professionals who for the most part have to seek out new information on their own rather than depend on old trite descriptions in the texts which were used during their own schooling. Don't be discouraged, we are not able to see the progress measuring by our day to day experiences, but the proliferation of autism information is real and continues to grow and expand our knowledge base. Theories are just that, and as such are subject to revision as information grows and expands our understanding.
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https://oldladywithautism.blog/
"Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.” Samuel Johnson
Autism isn't the only thing people don't understand. NTs can misunderstand the state of mind of an NT with depression or any other mental health issue.
These things take educating, not instinct (although some NTs, and some autistics, may already have the instinctive ability to understand other mind states, but it is not very common).
When my grandmother got Alzheimer's but was still living on her own, the carers who visited her twice a day kept telling her things and expecting her to remember what they told her. They didn't seem to understand that a person with dementia can't contain information like the rest of us usually can, and even putting her pills next to her to take at the appropriate time was too much to ask. They seemed to think they were just dealing with another NT, when really she needed them to actually tell her to take her pills and watch her take them. These carers were trained about dementia but still couldn't seem to empathise.
Most people can only empathise with those who have had a similar experience. Like if the carers had close relatives with dementia they might have been more able to understand how difficult or confusing a simple task can be for a person with dementia, unlike the rest of us that take these skills for granted.
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Female
Super good point. Perspective!! !! RE communication: My ASD BFF and I happily share information and experiences back and forth just fine. It doesn't adhere to the NT standards: 10-20 second NT reciprocation, shared popular subjects, lack of depth, but it's completely valid form of communication, which is reciprocal, flowing and enjoyable in its way.
Dandansson, I don't know what wcc is and will save that to look up another day (I'm a bit overwhelmed currently IRL).
Most people can only empathise with those who have had a similar experience. Like if the carers had close relatives with dementia they might have been more able to understand how difficult or confusing a simple task can be for a person with dementia, unlike the rest of us that take these skills for granted.
This is true
Also people mix up compassion and empathy, even mental health workers.
They are different things
Keep in mind that these professionals are scientists, and that in science, a "theory" is something that has been proven over and over again. It is only among non-professionals that the word "theory" is synonymous with "fantasy".
Issues with theory of mind,
Weak central coherence (wcc) and
Issues with executive functioning.
My first thinking is that WCC is just one the teories. Gestal perception is another way of talking about it but it is not that common, I think?
Anyway, why do experts speak about this is mostly a negative way? Are there not always to sides to everyrhing?
And why do many professionals just accept wcc theory? Are professionals seldom to be trusted?
A scientific theory is a most viable model supported by strongest evidence we have at the moment. So yeah, not "just one of theories". This is why most of scientific world accepts WCC. If some kind of discovery which will make it obsolete surfaces, then they'll search for something better based upon newly found data.
Autism is taken as a negative thing AS-A-WHOLE. Because on one side of the spectrum, you have people like me, who are highly functioning and my "symptoms" boil down to lack of inherent, instinctive empathy, social withdrawal, awkwardness, need for constant physical stimulation (I cannot stand in one place when waiting for a bus, I am walking around the stop, for example), rigid facial expression, not looking in the eyes and way different processing of emotions than in NTs, mostly.
But I knew a case of a girl who had very similar spectrum, however, she has something I completely lack - a high drive to socialise with other people. Her Asperger's was dragging her down, because she wanted to have a lot of friends, be among people, but simply couldn't do it. She was attending social skills training therapy at the time and was very emotional person. It was just one thing on top of what I have and she couldn't cope with it.
Then you have people with much more severe issues, which absolutely ruin their lives. Uncontrolled meltdowns, hypersensitivities, problems with language, mental impairment.
While I do agree that there are two sides to everything, one has to realise that there are two kinds of people with Autism spectrum: ones for whom positives outweigh negatives and ones for whom opposite is true. I am fitting in to first group and like who I am, but I can see why many hate their autism.
Autism affects everybody differently. Some autistic people are happy to be alive and others wish that their lives could be easier. I view my autism as a positive thing and I celebrate it through my art. I have a friend on WP who wishes to be NT. I think that it all boils down to each individual.
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Who wants to adopt a Sweet Pea?
These things take educating, not instinct (although some NTs, and some autistics, may already have the instinctive ability to understand other mind states, but it is not very common).
When my grandmother got Alzheimer's but was still living on her own, the carers who visited her twice a day kept telling her things and expecting her to remember what they told her. They didn't seem to understand that a person with dementia can't contain information like the rest of us usually can, and even putting her pills next to her to take at the appropriate time was too much to ask. They seemed to think they were just dealing with another NT, when really she needed them to actually tell her to take her pills and watch her take them. These carers were trained about dementia but still couldn't seem to empathise.
Most people can only empathise with those who have had a similar experience. Like if the carers had close relatives with dementia they might have been more able to understand how difficult or confusing a simple task can be for a person with dementia, unlike the rest of us that take these skills for granted.
But they were fired, right?
Why would anyone want to be NT with all the problems such a person would have?
Yes, but I think most professionals see the autistic as a diagnosis, instead of as people, so the autistic become a problem for them to solve. They say autistic people have theory of mind issues, but NTs have just as much difficulty understanding autistic people. This is a theory of mind issue. Or, more accurately, evidence of differences in communication and expression.
They also say autistic people like rigid, ritualistic behavior. But, I think this is because they see forms of pleasure which are (yes) repetitive, but also undesirable to them. The need to make small talk and say hello and goodbye is rigid and ritualistic to me, but NTs are less likely to see it this way because they enjoy these behaviors.
What you seem to say is that many times NT people are very bad at seeing the whole picture.
But my thinking is that WCC is a theory many professionals accept and talk about without knowing what it is all about. I am sure that many professionals don't even believe in it but talk about as they were told that they should do so.
Keep in mind that these professionals are scientists, and that in science, a "theory" is something that has been proven over and over again. It is only among non-professionals that the word "theory" is synonymous with "fantasy".
Why do you beleive in WCC instead of gestalt perception?
Yes, but I think most professionals see the autistic as a diagnosis, instead of as people, so the autistic become a problem for them to solve. They say autistic people have theory of mind issues, but NTs have just as much difficulty understanding autistic people. This is a theory of mind issue. Or, more accurately, evidence of differences in communication and expression.
They also say autistic people like rigid, ritualistic behavior. But, I think this is because they see forms of pleasure which are (yes) repetitive, but also undesirable to them. The need to make small talk and say hello and goodbye is rigid and ritualistic to me, but NTs are less likely to see it this way because they enjoy these behaviors.
What you seem to say is that many times NT people are very bad at seeing the whole picture.
But my thinking is that WCC is a theory many professionals accept and talk about without knowing what it is all about. I am sure that many professionals don't even believe in it but talk about as they were told that they should do so.
What I was saying is that I feel much of the language around autism is biased against the autistic person. More specifically, NTs seem quick to point out when autistic people misunderstand NTs, but when NTs misunderstand the autistic they seem to put the burden onto autistic people. NTs--professional or not--don't seem very interested in understanding autistic ways of communicating, but in teaching autistic people to communicate as NTs.
My comments were a response to the phrase "Theory of Mind," rather than WCC.
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