Extroverted Personality and Autism/Aspergers
Hi all
At university the other day I had an interesting discussion with a rather extroverted Leninist about politics and stuff like that. A friend of his later told me that he has autism, which he then confirmed to me. I have the impression (and this is true for myself) that people with Autism/Aspergers are mostly introverted. Is this a one off thing, or is being autistic and extroverted not as rare as I think it is?
Many Thanks
I do not think this is odd. I can be quite extroverted, but it does not come across very well. The biggest reason i SEEM introverted is when I am focused on my goal or activity and I can be ver extroverted. I like sharing my interests and knowledge and random thoughts AND I think out loud. I am edgy around strangers but I can go off a mile a minute about a topic of interest with them because I also like doing happy things.
Problem is that when I am extroverted and friendly I am
Loud
Hyper
Rock if I am standing
Giggle a lot
Repeat myself
hug/pat/squeeze the listener and I am heavy handed
I do not come across very well. =/ I have asked myself if this is normal autistic behavior, my penchant for chattiness . . . but then again define normal!
Problem is that when I am extroverted and friendly I am
Loud
Hyper
Rock if I am standing
Giggle a lot
Repeat myself
hug/pat/squeeze the listener and I am heavy handed
I do not come across very well. =/ I have asked myself if this is normal autistic behavior, my penchant for chattiness . . . but then again define normal!
You should tone it down on the hugging and squeezing the listener. Making people physically uncomfortable is one thing I see a lot of aspies do, and thats one of the main reasons NT's don't wanna hang out with them. Just think of how you'd feel if some dude kept putting his arm around you and giving you unwanted hugs. You probably wouldn't wanna hang out with him either.
Let me take a deep breath first to calm myself...
I believe that extroverts outnumber introverts in this world. I believe that extroverted Aspies might withdraw from social interactions too because NTs keep shunning them. Look at me, how do you expect me to "socialize more" when I'm already an outcast? End of rant. Phew.
Hey, that's really neat! I'd wondered if that was even possible. Recently diagnosed, so far any aspies I know are from a distance (my mom teaches at my high school, and has told me of one student in particular). Only other aspies are a couple I went to an Asperger therapy group (which fell through after a couple months). Other than that limited experience, I'm the only one I know, and I have reacted so resentfully to being shunned that I boarder on antisocial. However, I've noticed in both my sister and a friend (both friendly) Asperger-y qualities. Guess I'm not paranoid!
I know both interoverted and extroverted aspies...extroverts are more common than you'd think. Introversion going hand in hand with aspieness seems like a bit of a stereotype, since many of them aren't really introverts by choice, but rather because of their situations in life. Often, the extrovert aspie will become so discouraged getting rejected by person after person that they'll very awkwardly attempt making friends online...I see it happen all the time.
_________________
Given a “tentative” diagnosis as a child as I needed services at school for what was later correctly discovered to be a major anxiety disorder.
This misdiagnosis caused me significant stress, which lessened upon finding out the truth about myself from my current and past long-term psychiatrists - that I am a highly sensitive person but do not have an autism spectrum disorder
My diagnoses - anxiety disorder, depression and traits of obsessive-compulsive disorder (all in remission).
I’m no longer involved with the ASD world.
Problem is that when I am extroverted and friendly I am
Loud
Hyper
Rock if I am standing
Giggle a lot
Repeat myself
hug/pat/squeeze the listener and I am heavy handed
I do not come across very well. =/ I have asked myself if this is normal autistic behavior, my penchant for chattiness . . . but then again define normal!
You should tone it down on the hugging and squeezing the listener. Making people physically uncomfortable is one thing I see a lot of aspies do, and thats one of the main reasons NT's don't wanna hang out with them. Just think of how you'd feel if some dude kept putting his arm around you and giving you unwanted hugs. You probably wouldn't wanna hang out with him either.
I can see that and what is funny is that the fact that I DO that list of things makes my roommates say that i could not possibly have aspergers that the one factor any autism spectrum disorder has IS the lack of social skills, wishing to be social, eye contact and social "butterfly" behavior. I think the list below does not denote me as being very sociable. just because you want to be social does not mean it works, but at least they have acknowledged that I do have issues? and want me to go pursue a diagnosis again and start going to the doctor.
Loud
Hyper
Rock if I am standing
Giggle a lot
Repeat myself
hug/pat/squeeze the listener and I am heavy handed
Hyper
Rock if I am standing
Giggle a lot
Repeat myself
hug/pat/squeeze the listener and I am heavy handed
Wow, same here, almost. I don't touch people or rock. Sometimes I'm in a really happy mood and find it really hard not to laugh, and it makes the other person think, "What did I say?".
I walk fast sometimes to get the energy out, and when I'm in a group of people with AS I can walk over from one person to the next, cos they probably won't care so much about how odd I'll appear. I just can't do it with NTs.
I know an autistic person who is definitely extroverted. The definition of extroverted vs introversion is not loud vs quiet. An extrovert would like to be around people and would enjoy interacting with them (even if those interactions are impaired). They would feel energized after these interactions. They may also need time to be alone each day. An extrovert can be quieter.
An introvert draws energy from being alone and needs a great deal of time to reflect on the world. I am an introvert but I talk quite a lot with those I know well. I am not a quiet person. Introverts really crave alone time and may find interacting with others exhausting. I think there are more introverts on the autism spectrum than extroverts.
Mummy_of_Peanut
Veteran
Joined: 20 Feb 2011
Age: 51
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,564
Location: Bonnie Scotland
I'm an extrovert. But, I was shy for a very long time and only overcame it about 6 years ago. So, people probably thought I was an introvert. I'm still shy when there are more then 3 people in the company. But, on a one-to-one basis, I will regularly initiate conversations. I must have done this about 5 or 6 times today. When I do personality quizzes, I get a result of introvert, which isn't accurate at all. My daughter's also an extrovert (and how).
_________________
"We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiatic about." Charles Kingsley
I'm an introvert, but I very very good at interacting with other NTs, they don't suspect a thing. So if you met me, (and for some reason you I actually told you I was an aspie) you might suspect I'm extroverted depending on the situtation. But that took years and years of practice, trial and error, and observation. (In other words, putting myself directly into situations that would make me uncomfortable, such as public speaking, customer service, tutoring, and just learning about how NTs think, operate, and react to stuff. You often learn stuff and become stronger when you have no choice but to do so. The "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" concept basically)
On the Briggs-Myer's test I scored a 1% difference on the Extrovert/Introvert. Took it twice and came out the same. I am very comfortable being extroverted although I can get very quiet when there is a lot of noise, people, and bright lights.
I'm a hugger, but I always ask before I do it. I've only had 1 person turn me down before.
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