Do you think Bush may have Aspergers?

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David1981
Pileated woodpecker

Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Age: 44
Gender: Male
Posts: 189
Location: Québec, Canada

20 Oct 2007, 3:12 am

Phagocyte wrote:

Quite the opposite, I think. He's extroverted, unintelligent, and speaks in a manner to which Hans Asperger would certainly not call him a "little professor." Maybe a "big idiot."

David1981 wrote:

I would say the president with the greatest odds of being an Aspie was Calvin Coolidge. I also think Richard Nixon might have been as well.

Of all the presidents that may have exhibited traits on the autism spectrum, I would say it was one of my favorites, John Quincy Adams. Quiet, introverted, a bit socially awkward (especially with women), highly intelligent, and with a heavy interest in the sciences, especially botany.

I agree with you. John Quincy Adams very well might have been an Aspie. His photograph shows the so-called "Aspie stare". He was also one of the United States' most intelligent, yet unpopular presidents. He was the first person that served as president to have his photograph taken.

Here is his dagguerotype:

David1981
Pileated woodpecker

Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Age: 44
Gender: Male
Posts: 189
Location: Québec, Canada

20 Oct 2007, 3:18 am

RadiantAspie wrote:

I have to ask you guys a question. Why do you guys have the tendency to assume autism in individuals who exhibit little to none of the traits associated with it? Or assume that just because they have one trait in common, that they must have it?

Many of the traits and symptoms associated with Autism are also prevalent in other neurological conditions, never mind the fact that they appear in most humans in general (just not as severe or obvious though).

I agree with your sentiments. Many people do speculate when only one or two traits are evident in an individual. Asperger's Syndrome is a collection of traits and when enough traits come together to form a critical mass, one is then prudent to query whether the person does, or did, have Asperger's Syndrome.

I look at the DSM IV manual as a checklist. If a historical figure exhibited enough behaviours where he/she could be considered in earnest to be an Aspie, then I then post a query as to his/her possible Asperger's.

All in all, I believe that one needs to be prudent when considering whether someone of historical significance had Asperger's. However, when one is more careful, such speculation should not be dismissed a priori.

Phagocyte
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