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rachel_519
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02 Oct 2011, 11:47 pm

I have been reading about the subtypes of social impairment described here: http://www.awares.org/static_docs/about_autism.asp?docSection=3. Neongrl also does a good job of describing the subtypes in this old thread: http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt30557.html.

Can anyone tell me more about the passive type? How does a person with this type of impairment think? Can anyone point me to the original article where these subtypes are described?

Thanks



Verdandi
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03 Oct 2011, 2:56 am

I don't quite understand what you want to know.

I am socially passive, but I can't narrow down what you mean by ""How does a person with this type of impairment think?" Could you add more specifics as to what you're looking for?



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03 Oct 2011, 4:55 am

I sort of fall into that category.

It says "May make eye contact, passively joins in activities" etc.

So, I went to a party with "friends," it was a bunch of people I didn't know. I was intro'd to them, I tried to make eye contact, I was pleasant to them, but while they played beer pong I watched from the sidelines and remained silent, only talking if spoken to.

Not sure if that's what it means, but if it does, then I guess that's me.

The thought process is: I'd rather be socially involved but ignored, so that I may continue being alone, but with other people.

If that makes sense, then that's my best guess.


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pensieve
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03 Oct 2011, 6:24 am

The most passive type of autism is a sub type called Pathological Demand Avoidance syndrome/disorder (PDA) and talking about that is like flipping through a photo album of my childhood.

You can check out my latest blog at: http://latedx.wordpress.com

I go into a few symptoms, mainly the controlling ones.

PDA is categorized by the constant desire to avoid doing what people say, but it is an anxiety disorder. I remember my teacher was trying to get me to direct some student for some exercise but I was a selective mute so didn't say a word in school and I was extremely stubborn in those days. Tie me up and put a gun to my head - I'll still not do want you wanted me to do.

I was different though because people with PDA don't have a lack of social skills like in autism and they think all the delays are due to avoidance. Not so with me. I really didn't have much knowledge about the world. I was a quick learner though, once I learnt things my own way...and actually wanted to learn.

Now, when it comes to explaining how I thought, I had a very slow way of thinking, like that feeling when you first wake up but throughout the day. I used to talk to people in my head because of my selective mutism. The people would be right beside me. I used to talk to God or just be in my own fantasy world which often guest starred Jonathan Brandis. Hey I liked Sea Quest and Never Ending Story II and what was that ninja movie he was in, with Chuck Norris?
I didn't have much of a social mindset at all. I barely thought about the things I think of today. I have a varied knowledge of the world now and have some social experiences that I replay in my head. I've been backstage with bands a lot.

I've got friends now but don't want to be the centre of conversation, unless I can talk about astronomy or Star Trek. I rather just sit back and listen and watch my friends interact.

I actually tick all the boxes to all those types.


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rachel_519
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03 Oct 2011, 11:46 pm

Thanks for you answers.

I am trying to understand this better because, as you can see from Fragmented and pensieve's responses, there is a wide variety of traits that can be described by the word "passive". But maybe what pensieve describes is just a more severe form of the same thing that Fragmented describes.

I was wondering about the thought patterns behind autistic passivity because in the NT world, passive people are assumed to be either really shy, really bored with the situation, or really existential (like "people watchers"), whereas, in my experience, I just rarely feel the urge to joint in the socializing; I can sit on the sidelines and feel just as involved as if I were actively participating. Plus, if I do have a desire to interact, I have a hard time figuring out how unless someone else initiates it.



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04 Oct 2011, 12:16 am

This study says that passive subtype is correlated with later development of catatonic features. Catatonia is more of a motor-related version of inertia, and one characteristic of catatonia is difficulty initiating. So perhaps passive subtype wants to interact but has trouble initiating?



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04 Oct 2011, 12:33 am

i'd be a mix of passive/active-odd

which might be passive agressive...i've always though i was passive aggressive.


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04 Oct 2011, 1:28 am

I've felt like of the types listed I match best with passive. Personally, am passive and submissive because I'm terrified of hurting people. I don't want to do anything that hurts someone else, and will do nothing over something that I'm not sure about - as I am also an aspie, this leads to me not initiating anything.



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04 Oct 2011, 1:45 am

I think the my lack of wanting to socialise comes from low levels of certain neurotransmitters like dopamine. On ADHD medication I will talk and talk and am the stereotypical Asperger who will just talk to you and not know or care whether you are listening but when I'm not on them I feel drained by my surroundings so I don't say very much.

When I was a kid I would never think about talking to people because I was caught up in my own world. I just don't think my brain originally was conditioned for socialising and interacting with people. As I got older and learned I was different and wanted to fit in more. Now I'm half lacking the desire half got some skills that make socialising go a bit easier for me. When all else fails, take pills to awake some neurotransmitters.

I might just add that when I was younger I was hyposensitive to pain and most of my senses, now I'm hypersensitive. The hyposensitivity may have made me understimulated by my environment and less curious about anything going around me apart from some very narrow interests.


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04 Oct 2011, 5:40 pm

Currently, I'm "passive."

As a kid, I was more "aloof."

But I had/have an imagination. Otherwise, that website was pretty accurate for me. Mostly, I didn't realize I was SUPPOSED to be talking to people.


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