The Autistic Me

Parenthood (2010 TV series) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Television now includes a surprising number of autistic and possibly autistic characters. We've already had shows with autistics (The Bridge, Touched, Alphas , Elementary , Parenthood , and more). There seem to be more, now, or maybe that's merely my perception. I am not impressed with this trend. As with the novel and play, __Curious Incident__, the characters seem like a collection of assumptions about autism. Not horrible, but too reliant on shallow understandings of atypical neurologies and savant personalities. An expert consultant? A specialist? Maybe even an autistic person offering some opinions regarding scripts or even on set. But, generally, the characters feel superficial. Atypical is just bland and lousy, with or without the geeky boy in search of sex (or love). I simply don't like the characters. If it weren't pitched as a show about autism, maybe it wouldn't be streaming. The Good ...

Since completing my doctorate, I haven't had a compelling reason to read much about the psychology of autism. When I read scholarly articles in psychology, they tend to be connected to economics or politics. You might imagine that economics and policy, so connected to rhetoric and persuasion, would delve into empathy with some depth, but most behavioral economics I read is macro in nature. Even psychology texts about business, including suggestions that traits of sociopathy are common in banking, don't discuss types of empathy in great detail. Recently, though, a comment posted about writing fiction and autism led me search out scholarship on cognitive and affective empathy. The research I located indicates cognitive empathy is impaired among study subjects with autism, and self-cognition is also impaired. Emotional, affective empathy is the same as or more entente than that of control subjects in some studies, too. So here is the challenge with writing that I was t...

This weekend, TNT aired "The Librarian" movies. It reminds me of other great references to books and libraries. From The Mummy  (1999): Evelyn: I may not be an explorer, or an adventurer, or a treasure-seeker, or a gunfighter, Mr. O'Connell, but I am proud of what I am. Rick: And what is that? Evelyn: I… am a librarian. From the Doctor Who episode "Tooth and Claw" (2006): Sir Robert: Nevertheless, that creature won't give up, Doctor, and we still don't possess an actual weapon! The Doctor: Oh, your dad got all the brains, didn't he? Rose Tyler: Being rude again! The Doctor: Good, I meant that one. You want weapons? We're in a library! Books! The best weapons in the world! This room's the greatest arsenal we could have - arm yourselves! I found the idea of being a librarian very appealing—working in a place where people had to whisper and only speak when necessary. If only the world were like that! ― Peter Cameron, Someday This...

It seems every time I address a group, someone asks about "The Big Bang Theory." Even after I explain that I have never watched a complete episode — and until recently not even most of an episode — I am asked about the characters. The common questions include: Q: Don't you just love Sheldon Cooper? A: I didn't know who he was until recently. I Googled the name, honestly. Q: Couldn't you tell how much like those characters you are? A: No. I found them annoying. I don't like most science fiction or comic books, either. Though I do appreciate references to obscure scientists. Q: Didn't you go to CalTech? A: No, I went to USC. I'm a fiercely loyal Trojan. A friend from USC married a Ph.D from CalTech, but that's as close as I get. Q: Don't you have several degrees? Wouldn't you like another degree? A: Possible evidence that I make dumb choices. Q: Aren't you a genius? A: It doesn't make me funny, either. I guess I do sha...