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Is there a link between autism/aspergers and violence?

  • 01-01-2021 9:33pm
    #1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3


    I have a teenage son who was diagnosed with ASD and I've been searching up that many mass shooters in the US/criminals may be on the autistic spectrum. I'm a bit worried for him in the future when he's an adult and what he may do even though he's been good so far.

    Dr Simon Baron Cohen has also talked about a subset of autism called 'Criminal Autistic Psychopathy'. Do you know what this is?


Comments

  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Regional West Moderators Posts: 59,559 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gremlinertia


    Don't listen to doctor google, stats can be massaged to deliver any message. Talk to your son's specialist


  • Registered Users Posts: 586 ✭✭✭SVI40


    My son has Aspergers, and I have met many others with the condition when he was attending a support group. The most mild mannered, lovely people you could meet. They are just a bit different in how they view the world.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3 celebrox2


    SVI40 wrote: »
    My son has Aspergers, and I have met many others with the condition when he was attending a support group. The most mild mannered, lovely people you could meet. They are just a bit different in how they view the world.

    I hope you don't mind me asking but in what ways does your son struggle? How old is your son? Mine is 17yrs old and is obsessed with conspiracies. He also goes into extensive details when talking with others.


  • Registered Users Posts: 586 ✭✭✭SVI40


    celebrox2 wrote: »
    I hope you don't mind me asking but in what ways does your son struggle? How old is your son? Mine is 17yrs old and is obsessed with conspiracies. He also goes into extensive details when talking with others.

    He's 24, just gone. He's just different, will only hold a conversation in what he is interested in, and if you change it, he will try to bring it back to what he wants to talk about. From a social aspect, when people arrive to visit, he chats to them, but it is like he is reading a script. Same questions all the time.

    They do tend to take on one or two subjects and become experts in them, and that is all they will want to talk about. My son still loves Thomas the tank engine!! But does keep quite about that when we are out, as he kind of know it is not appropriate for his age :).

    With him, if you never met him before, you would know in a few minutes he was different from what we expect as "normal". He's very keen to get a job, and has got some interviews, but it always ends up with the thanks for coming, we'll call you if we have anything. The biggest issue I have found over the years it you struggle for any support. There is a lot of talk about support, but very little in practice.


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,671 ✭✭✭GarIT


    They can certainly have issues with uncontrollable emotions.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 3,388 ✭✭✭Airyfairy12


    It can go either way, most people with Autism are good natured but there are quite a few exceptions where violent outburst are common, a trait of aspergers is lack of empathy and this can lead to causing harm to others. I have an aspergers family member with this trait and they can be extremely aggressive, lack boundaries and constantly say hurtful things to get under other peoples skin, its accompanied by an arrogance, they believe themselves to be smarter/better than other people and think its funny to manipulate or harm other people they see as less intelligent as themselves.
    This causes them to be rejected, bullied and disliked by lots of people, this then makes them angry and adds fuel to the fire, it can become a very unhealthy cycle that results in serious aggression.
    Id wonder if upbringing plays a part and id imagine early intervention to support emotional intelligence and maturity could prevent this trait from escalating.


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