I find it hard to think of Autism as a brain-eating cancer. Rather, I see AS conditions as simply a set of.. unusual specializations, where different parts of a person's mind develop with more or less emphasis on different layers.
There isn't an 'autistic' part of me -- instead, I think of having relatively under-developed bits of the brain that deals with social awareness, abstraction of sensory inputs and introspection, while the bits that deal with spacial visualization, rational thought and sensory processing being comparatively super-developed.
(In particular, this combination results in at least one of my super-powers: the ability to sustain, under the right conditions, epic levels of concentration.)
In my head, I think of 'introversion/extroversion' as a measure of how cognitively expensive it is to project a mask/persona/fascade when interacting with other people.
(Note that when you're talking to someone you know, trust and respect, maintaining that superficial fascade is usually unnecessary -- it's generally safe to share all your thoughts, as they really are, without having to filter them to avoid sharing personal things, or unnecessarily burdening the listener.)
If you find it a lot of effort and generally difficult, you're on the 'introverted' end of the scale, where it's difficult to engage in social interactions with unfamiliar or untrusted people.
On the other hand, if you find it relatively easy, then you're towards the 'extroverted' end of the scale. Mixing with other people at a relatively superficial level is therefore something you're likely to engage in more frequently -- or, at least, cope with better.
People with AS conditions can fall in both categories; could be relatively shy and private, or can be completely outgoing and unrestrained (though not, necessarily, tactful.)
And, on a different axis again is how much social interaction matters to a person. Most people I know value interpersonal interaction to some degree, but for some it's far more important than it is for others.
Finally, there's the notion of depth-of-understanding when it comes to how people think. I certainly know that, when I was a student, my understanding of others was inferior to most my age -- and so I did tend to blunder about somewhat, though usually in a manner people took to be well-meaning, even if I was exasperating. Today, I do better, though I can still find noisy social situations highly draining if I fail to quickly find someone I can relate to easily among the crowd.
So, you've got lots of different axes. Some combinations are more likely than others -- an extroverted, Aspergic, socially-uninterested but highly socially-competent combination seems improbable, for example. (Did I just describe Dr. House?)
My natural build isn't actually too bad. Though it has been at times most extraordinarily difficult and challenging, I've been fortunate and found some really, really good people with whom I can just interact with directly; no fascades or filters required, so it has become easy to talk to them, and sate the desire for, well, companionship and conversation.
Which is good, because, certainly at the moment, cognitive resources are in short supply, what with my impending thesis deadlines, battles against the writers-block and confidence monsters, and general weariness. I'm looking forward to a fortnight from now, when I'll be in the middle of the week I'm taking off after I've submitted the thesis. :-)
I'll poke Max and solicit suggestions for a minor catching up thing. I'm loathe to pull you out of your comfort zone unwillingly, but likewise don't want to invade your sanctum without invitation. Hopefully there's a half-way house that'll satisfy. :)
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Date: 2010-10-21 12:50 am (UTC)There isn't an 'autistic' part of me -- instead, I think of having relatively under-developed bits of the brain that deals with social awareness, abstraction of sensory inputs and introspection, while the bits that deal with spacial visualization, rational thought and sensory processing being comparatively super-developed.
(In particular, this combination results in at least one of my super-powers: the ability to sustain, under the right conditions, epic levels of concentration.)
In my head, I think of 'introversion/extroversion' as a measure of how cognitively expensive it is to project a mask/persona/fascade when interacting with other people.
(Note that when you're talking to someone you know, trust and respect, maintaining that superficial fascade is usually unnecessary -- it's generally safe to share all your thoughts, as they really are, without having to filter them to avoid sharing personal things, or unnecessarily burdening the listener.)
If you find it a lot of effort and generally difficult, you're on the 'introverted' end of the scale, where it's difficult to engage in social interactions with unfamiliar or untrusted people.
On the other hand, if you find it relatively easy, then you're towards the 'extroverted' end of the scale. Mixing with other people at a relatively superficial level is therefore something you're likely to engage in more frequently -- or, at least, cope with better.
People with AS conditions can fall in both categories; could be relatively shy and private, or can be completely outgoing and unrestrained (though not, necessarily, tactful.)
And, on a different axis again is how much social interaction matters to a person. Most people I know value interpersonal interaction to some degree, but for some it's far more important than it is for others.
Finally, there's the notion of depth-of-understanding when it comes to how people think. I certainly know that, when I was a student, my understanding of others was inferior to most my age -- and so I did tend to blunder about somewhat, though usually in a manner people took to be well-meaning, even if I was exasperating. Today, I do better, though I can still find noisy social situations highly draining if I fail to quickly find someone I can relate to easily among the crowd.
So, you've got lots of different axes. Some combinations are more likely than others -- an extroverted, Aspergic, socially-uninterested but highly socially-competent combination seems improbable, for example. (Did I just describe Dr. House?)
My natural build isn't actually too bad. Though it has been at times most extraordinarily difficult and challenging, I've been fortunate and found some really, really good people with whom I can just interact with directly; no fascades or filters required, so it has become easy to talk to them, and sate the desire for, well, companionship and conversation.
Which is good, because, certainly at the moment, cognitive resources are in short supply, what with my impending thesis deadlines, battles against the writers-block and confidence monsters, and general weariness. I'm looking forward to a fortnight from now, when I'll be in the middle of the week I'm taking off after I've submitted the thesis. :-)
I'll poke Max and solicit suggestions for a minor catching up thing. I'm loathe to pull you out of your comfort zone unwillingly, but likewise don't want to invade your sanctum without invitation. Hopefully there's a half-way house that'll satisfy. :)