FMX
Velociraptor
Joined: Mar 17, 2012
Posts: 484
|
 Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 9:50 pm Post subject: What makes an interest a "special interest"? |
 |
|
I'm quite new to being an Aspie and this is one of the things I haven't figure out yet from reading WP, so I'm starting my first thread here! Obviously everyone, NT or Aspie, has interests. But what qualifies an interest as a "special interest"?
DSM 4 criteria include "encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus" and the examples I've read in explanations of Asperger's include things like vacuum cleaners, batteries and camera model numbers (without an interest in photography). My understanding was that the interest would have to be "out of context", ie. something that the person has no practical reason to be interested in (at least not to the extent that they are).
Initially I thought that's what "special interest" refers to, but around here it seems to be used much more loosely. There are definitely some that are pretty narrow, like "meerkats" (that's a great one!) or unusual, like "My Little Pony" (unusual for an adult or teenage male, at least). But I've also seen people mention special interests like computers, video games, anime, film, maths, sharemarket, etc. and they don't seem particularly narrow or unusual or out of context. I guess if that's all you do in your spare time it might be "unusual in intensity", but even playing video games all day wouldn't be all that uncommon for kids and teenagers (and perhaps unemployed adults  ).
I don't think I have anything that qualifies as a "special interest", so I kind of feel like I'm missing out, really! I have interests, they just don't seem "special". The closest thing might be that I know a bit too much about frequent flyer programs for someone who flies very infrequently. But even that's not something I read about every week and there is some practical purpose behind it (I find flying in economy very uncomfortable and want to do all I can to make it more comfortable on those rare occasions when I need to do it).
Can someone explain it to me? What makes an interest a "special interest" for you? |
|
| Back to top |
|
TPE2
Phoenix
Joined: Oct 21, 2008
Posts: 1453
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 9:59 pm Post subject: Re: What makes an interest a "special interest"? |
|
|
| FMX wrote: | I'm quite new to being an Aspie and this is one of the things I haven't figure out yet from reading WP, so I'm starting my first thread here! Obviously everyone, NT or Aspie, has interests. But what qualifies an interest as a "special interest"?
DSM 4 criteria include "encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus" and the examples I've read in explanations of Asperger's include things like vacuum cleaners, batteries and camera model numbers (without an interest in photography). My understanding was that the interest would have to be "out of context", ie. something that the person has no practical reason to be interested in (at least not to the extent that they are).
Initially I thought that's what "special interest" refers to, but around here it seems to be used much more loosely. There are definitely some that are pretty narrow, like "meerkats" (that's a great one!) or unusual, like "My Little Pony" (unusual for an adult or teenage male, at least). But I've also seen people mention special interests like computers, video games, anime, film, maths, sharemarket, etc. and they don't seem particularly narrow or unusual or out of context. I guess if that's all you do in your spare time it might be "unusual in intensity", but even playing video games all day wouldn't be all that uncommon for kids and teenagers (and perhaps unemployed adults ). |
Well, you have the "abnormal in (...) focus" (very narrow interests), OR the "abnormal in intensity" (normal interests but pursued with excessive intensity).
Like a wrote in another place, the ICD-10 definition seems a bit more narrow, althoug largely identical - "An encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that are abnormal in content or focus; or one or more interests that are abnormal in their intensity and circumscribed nature though not in their content or focus". |
|
| Back to top |
|
scubasteve
Phoenix
Joined: Dec 18, 2009
Age: 28
Posts: 993
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:05 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I agree with TPE2... It can be anything. The "abnormal intensity or focus" is what makes it a "special interest." |
|
| Back to top |
|
DJFester
Phoenix
Joined: Dec 06, 2009
Posts: 970
Location: Minneapolis MN USA
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Yep, the intensity of focus on a subject of interest defines it very well.
_________________
You can't tell which way the train went by looking at the tracks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
CockneyRebel
Mick Avory, Sensitive brown-eyed Sweet Pea
Joined: Jul 18, 2004
Age: 38
Posts: 87235
Location: In a quiet and peaceful garden, where gentle Mick Avory-like Sweet Peas grow.
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
What makes a special interest special, is the intense happiness that it gives you. The Kinks have been my special interest since I was 19 and I've liked them since I was 8. They make me happy to the point that I forget about other things sometimes. A special interest is something that's so special to you that you put it above all else. I enjoy having a special interest, because it makes me happy and nobody will ever make me hate The Kinks, because I won't let them. 
_________________
The darling, unworldly Mick Avory with hands like shovels, who wouldn't dare choose to hurt a soul: I'm the cuddly, adorable Kink. Sweet Peas: http://s76.photobucket.com/albums/j37/Cocknee/Kinks/Sweet%20Pea%20Smileys/ Other: http://www.mybrowsercash.com/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
one-A-N
Phoenix
Joined: Mar 03, 2010
Posts: 704
Location: Sydney
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I am interested in a particular dialect of a foreign language.
I don't have any relatives from there, I don't know anyone in daily life who speaks it, and knowing this dialect has no practical uses.
But it was like falling in love at first sight - or like finding a secret hidden world that only I appreciated. I can still remember the first sentence I ever saw in this dialect. When I am reading texts, or reading about the dialect, I am happy and at peace. I feel like everything is in its rightful place in the world, when I am pursuing my special interest. It is a lovely sense of calm - I am in my world.
I rarely talk about it with other people, though, because people look at me oddly when I mention my special interests: "Why are you interested in that?" |
|
| Back to top |
|
one-A-N
Phoenix
Joined: Mar 03, 2010
Posts: 704
Location: Sydney
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 12:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
| CockneyRebel wrote: | | What makes a special interest special, is the intense happiness that it gives you. The Kinks have been my special interest since I was 19 and I've liked them since I was 8. They make me happy to the point that I forget about other things sometimes. A special interest is something that's so special to you that you put it above all else. I enjoy having a special interest, because it makes me happy and nobody will ever make me hate The Kinks, because I won't let them. |
You always remind me of one of the happy aspects of my teen years (1967-73): British Pop music of the 60s. As an undiagnosed Aspie teenager, those years were filled with anxiety and depression, and struggling emotionally. But the UK Pop scene is one of my happier memories from that time. I still like "Sunny Afternoon" - hearing it takes me back to the days when I was listening to it on the chunky valve radio in my bedroom.
So I can appreciate your special interest! |
|
| Back to top |
|
ocdgirl123
Phoenix
Joined: Oct 11, 2010
Age: 18
Posts: 2447
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 12:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
Yes, unusual in intensity. Like I have a special interest in a band, not too unusual, thought the band isn't popular with age group, still, it is not uncommon for people my age to be interested in them, as I know of people my age to be interested in them, have seen them on their message board and have seen them at concerts. However, it is probably a bit unusual in intensity, though it doesn't seem as intense as some people's.
_________________
I fell. It didn't hurt. Big deal. |
|
| Back to top |
|
nebrets
Velociraptor
Joined: Feb 27, 2012
Posts: 460
Location: Orion–Cygnus Arm of the Milky Way galaxy.
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 1:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
What would you do if all other things could be put off.
Here is an example of a developing special intrest:
Right now I am the early stages of developing a new special interest in traffic patters. It is cool to be in the still developing stage where every thing is right now about classifying first had observations and reading the material I an find. I am also in the middle designing better on and off ramps that will not cause traffic backups on the freeways they enter on to and exit off of.
There are traffic pattern that I do not feel I can address because they deal with human psychology such as when traffic is slowed down in the direction opposite where there has been a wreck or obstruction. For some illogical reason I this is a strange illogical part of human behavior. Or if there is a care pooled over on the shoulder with a cop, and even though no lane is obstructed, three lanes of traffic stop. I am more interested in logical road design for the expected traffic and interconnections.
I am a biologist, and have no formal training in this subject, yet I could spend lots of time becoming an expert on it if I wanted to with lots of time.
Take notes in the unusualness of the interest. For me there is a lot of intensity in my study of it.
But what is truly special about it is that it makes you happy, almost to the exclusion of everything else. |
|
| Back to top |
|
Rascal77s
Picnic Basket Thief
Joined: Nov 13, 2011
Posts: 2339
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 1:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | special-inter·est (spshl-ntrst, -tr-st, -trst) adj. An interest one engages in which causes observers to declare the individual 'special'. ex. "That dude is special". |
I always hated 'special interest'. Couldn't we just call it "Intense hobby" or something? |
|
| Back to top |
|
IdahoRose
Imaginary Friend
![]()
Joined: Feb 25, 2007
Age: 22
Posts: 18651
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 3:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Rascal77s wrote: | | Quote: | | special-inter·est (spshl-ntrst, -tr-st, -trst) adj. An interest one engages in which causes observers to declare the individual 'special'. ex. "That dude is special". |
I always hated 'special interest'. Couldn't we just call it "Intense hobby" or something? |
The two other most common synonyms for "special interest" are "obsession" and "passion". But some people object to "obsession" because of its association with OCD, and some people object to "passion" because they think it's too strong a word. Whatever you want to call an autistic person's hobby, there's always going to be someone who objects to the term you're using. |
|
| Back to top |
|
DeadalusRex
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Mar 10, 2012
Posts: 31
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 3:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
"But I've also seen people mention special interests like computers, video games, anime, film, maths, sharemarket, etc. and they don't seem particularly narrow or unusual or out of context."
Exactly-- it's a question of what's adaptive and what isn't. There are a lot of people who have autistic characteristics who don't seem to have narrow interests and plenty of NT people who have obsessive narrow intrests (say in a particular TV show). Its a problematic notion, and I suspect that as we begin to know more about neurophisiology it won't be seen as defining "symptom" of As in the way it often is now. but I could be wrong |
|
| Back to top |
|
Rax
Sea Gull
Joined: Nov 16, 2011
Posts: 226
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 4:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
You would be surprised how many NT teenage boys and girls like My Little Pony though.
It's actually quite popular in todays youthful culture.
_________________
You laugh because I am different, I laugh because you're all the same. |
|
| Back to top |
|
League_Girl
Proud mamma
Joined: Feb 05, 2010
Posts: 13521
Location: My house
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 4:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
| IdahoRose wrote: | | Rascal77s wrote: | | Quote: | | special-inter·est (spshl-ntrst, -tr-st, -trst) adj. An interest one engages in which causes observers to declare the individual 'special'. ex. "That dude is special". |
I always hated 'special interest'. Couldn't we just call it "Intense hobby" or something? |
The two other most common synonyms for "special interest" are "obsession" and "passion". But some people object to "obsession" because of its association with OCD, and some people object to "passion" because they think it's too strong a word. Whatever you want to call an autistic person's hobby, there's always going to be someone who objects to the term you're using. |
My mom calls mine OCD because that is what my psychiatrist told her when he diagnosed me. He also said it was a component of AS and part of it. But then I have seen on here that obsessions and OCD are two different things, same as rituals and routines and OCD and it's so confusing because I have been told that is OCD and then it's confusing when people say OCD is not part of AS. That is like saying sensory issues isn't part of AS or dyspraxia or saying mental retardation is not part of Down's syndrome or fetal alcohol syndrome. |
|
| Back to top |
|
League_Girl
Proud mamma
Joined: Feb 05, 2010
Posts: 13521
Location: My house
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 5:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
| DeadalusRex wrote: | "But I've also seen people mention special interests like computers, video games, anime, film, maths, sharemarket, etc. and they don't seem particularly narrow or unusual or out of context."
Exactly-- it's a question of what's adaptive and what isn't. There are a lot of people who have autistic characteristics who don't seem to have narrow interests and plenty of NT people who have obsessive narrow intrests (say in a particular TV show). Its a problematic notion, and I suspect that as we begin to know more about neurophisiology it won't be seen as defining "symptom" of As in the way it often is now. but I could be wrong |
I think it's possible for NTs to have restricted interests too and I would say that is maybe an autistic trait they have. But I wonder what is the difference between aspies getting obsessed with being on the computer all day long and NTs or them playing video games all day long and not wanting to do anything else. I can see it easily gets blamed on autism when an autistic person does it but when an NT does it, oh no what they are doing is totally different.  I know one person who does this, my husband and when I point out to him he does his computer all day long too and he goes "that's different, that is all I have to do to keep myself busy because I have nothing else to do." Plus he also says he does it because I drive him crazy with my obsessions so he is in our bedroom to stay away. He is the only one I dump my obsessions on and I told him if he wants me to stop, tell me to shut up and make me feel ashamed about them like my mom did and I will shut up. But he loves me too much to give me that tough love. My husband has TV to watch or his DVDs or music or books to read so he does have other things he can do. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
