Peculiar people have always been around, but Asperger's (AS) - also called high-functioning autism - isn't always recognized as a possible cause of odd behavior. The symptoms of AS can be mild (causing only somewhat unusual behavior), or severe (causing an inability to function in society without assistance).
For the "neurotypical" (i.e., non-autistic) women out there who are contemplating developing a relationship with a male "Aspie" - or for those who are already in such a relationship - below is a summary of the traits associated with the disorder that may be helpful in understanding your future boyfriend or husband.
Men with Asperger's:
1. have trouble deciphering the normal rules of society, which impacts their home, work and social lives
2. are often unable to understand other people's emotional states
3. often want to "fit in" with their peer group - but don't know how
4. think in "black and white" terms
5. tend to be in their own world
6. appear overly concerned with their own agenda
7. have difficulty managing appropriate social conduct and regulating emotions
8. follow strict routines
9. are highly focused in specific fields of interest often to the exclusion of other pursuits
10. have trouble empathizing and understand other perspectives
11. appear aloof, selfish or uncaring
12. have difficulties in their home life, often demanding little or no change in routines or schedules
13. behave at a younger developmental age in relationships
14. have difficulty understanding humor and may take what's said too literally
15. have obsessive tendencies (e.g., insisting all of their books be lined up in a certain order on the shelf or that the clothes in their closet are categorized by color, style or season)
16. lack the ability to display appropriate non-verbal behaviors, such as eye contact, facial expressions, body postures and gestures
17. have difficulties in initiating and maintaining friendships because of inappropriate social behaviors
18. tend to be literal thinkers
19. have trouble understanding social metaphors, teasing or irony
20. struggle to understand emotions in others
21. miss subtle cues such as facial expression, eye contact and body language
22. often avoid eye contact
23. may be unable to think in abstract ways
24. are preoccupied with something to the extreme level (e.g., if they like football, that is all they will talk about--all the time and with everyone)
25. may talk incessantly, often about topics that others have no interest in
26. are rigid and inflexible, making transitions of any type difficult
27. lack the social or empathetic skills to effectively manage romantic relationships
28. are often of high intelligence and may specialize in one area or interest, which leads to a lack of interest in alternate topics and the unwillingness to listen when others are speaking
29. need routines to help them function
30. experience poor communication skills which can lead to problems finding a job or interacting effectively in a workplace environment
31. are reliant on routine
32. have an obsession with categories and patterns
33. experience rigid thinking patterns that may make predicting outcomes of situations difficult
34. may have anger management problems and may lash out in a social setting without regard to another's feelings
35. may display highly developed vocabulary, often sounding overly formal and stilted
36. experience speech patterns that may have a strange cadence or lack the proper inflections
37. often memorize facts to the smallest detail
38. find the subtleties of courtship difficult
39. experience social and work-related difficulties which can cause anxiety, anger, low self-esteem, obsessive compulsive behaviors, and depression
40. have thought patterns that may be scattered and difficult for the listener to follow
41. are often obsessed with parts of objects
42. are often physically awkward and have a peculiar walk, poor posture, general clumsiness, or difficulty with physical tasks
43. may appear rude or obnoxious to others
44. can be inflexible in their thinking, unable to imagine a different outcome to a given situation than the one they perceive
45. may be reluctant to initiate conversation and may require prodding to talk
46. often choose inappropriate topics to discuss in a group setting or find making small talk difficult or even annoying
47. may demonstrate unusual non-verbal communication, such as limited facial expressions or awkward body posturing
48. develop strict lifestyle routines and experience anxiety and distress if that routine is disrupted
49. often engage in one-sided conversations without regard to whether anyone is listening to them
50. may feel disconnected and distant from the rest of the world, a feeling called "wrong planet" syndrome
51. may flap their hands or fingers, or make complex body movements
52. have difficulty interacting in social groups
53. have trouble with organization and seeing the "big picture," often focusing on one aspect of a project or task
54. may process information more slowly than normal, making it difficult to participate in discussions or activities that require quick thinking
55. may keep extensive written to-do lists or keep a mental checklist of their plans
Some may view the traits above as largely negative. Others may view them as simply a different way of viewing - and interacting with - the world. More on this topic can be found here ==> Aspergers: Disability or Unique Ability?
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