Are autistic people more likely to get violent?

Post Reply New Topic

No: Autistic people tend to have higher affective empathy than average, so they would be more opposed to inflicting pain on people. Also, violence logically has many disadvantages, and as Aspies tend to think logically they would theoretically be less likely to make a decision that is logically worse.

Yes: When some is unable to resolve a conflict through social manipulation, they are more likely to be forced to use force to get what they want/need or defend themselves or someone else. Also, autistic people are prone to meltdowns, where the person has reduced control over themselves, and people are more likely to get violent when they are not in full control of their behavior.

I know that when I'm unable to effectively communicate - I meltdown, and I tend to throw or slam things. I had a meltdown in my uncle's truck not too long ago where I slammed on the front of the dashboard with my fist consistently to let him know I was angry

I think Ganondox just about has it.

If you want to see violent, and not even realizing they're violent, try Paranoid Schizophrenics. They can think they're defending the Earth from the Pod People, while they're really killing their nearest and dearest.

I can get violent during a meltdown too, during meltdowns logical thinking vanishes, and an unrealistic desire to alleviate or defend oneself takes over. I take my anger out mostly on objects and when I want to hurt someone else I hurt myself instead. I've gotten better about it now that I'm no longer a teenager. Sometimes I just shut down instead of getting on the defensive.

I think that statement might be a little too generalizing. Anyone in an acute psychosis may exhibit that kind of behavior. People have different levels which they experience it much like the autism spectrum. Someone with a form of mental illness might not exhibit that particular behavior at all as opposed to another. Someone abusing drugs may even exhibit that kind of behavior. I think most schizophrenics are more likely to get upset about being overloaded much like an aspie would. The overload is more of an emotional overload rather than a sensory overload. A paranoid schizophrenic will more likely be overloaded by the fact that they are emotionally confused and no one is able to confirm what their experiencing is real. Or they might take offense to things being shouted by the voices in their head. Imagine suddenly getting the feeling that people in the room with you are watching you and gossiping about you, a strange voice whispers to you they're thinking badly of you and then you end up coincidentally in a confrontation with someone, you might freak out.

Well, I often do just want to watch the world burn, but also I often can't hurt one of earth's creatures like a harmless ant on a table. Two sides of the coin, or possibly Dungeons and Dragons dice.

Maybe this is a result of me reducing ethical situations to equations,
but any negative connotation "violence" has to me is negated when the actions involved are in defense of one's self or others, as was an example.

Also, I'm not sure what the percentage is of those who have "meltdowns" versus those who don't, especially of Aspergians vs Autistics.
One of the more commonly-observed differences between male and female Aspergians is that the latter are less likely to have meltdowns, as opposed to emotional "shutdowns".

Such is the case with me.

"Hulk Smash" and I are intertwined.

It's one reason why I can't work with people, with their silly little social hierarchy; treat me as a lesser person just because I'm "under" you, and you'll feel the pain. I see everyone as an equal in how people should be treated.

I'm super black and white thinking here, and I can't change it.

Actually, schizophrenic people are less likely to be violent than neurotypicals as well. In general, mental illness means a lower likelihood of being violent and a higher likelihood of being targeted for violence.

This does not mean that anyone with any kind of mental illness or neurological disorder is not going to ever be violent, and paranoid schizophrenics who have a pre-onset history of violence are likely to continue to be violent after onset. But mostly, the stereotype of the violent paranoid schizophrenic is not true.

As far as violence goes: I take my meltdowns out on objects. I feel horribly guilty as soon as they're over just for harming my own possessions. They're not all that common, either, and less common than they used to be. Mostly I end up shutting down.

As for myself, let's just say that I try to avoid confrontion at all costs, but if you push me too far I WILL beat the crap out of you, I'm far better at fighting than I should be for my small size, lack of strength, and clumsiness. Also, I have four younger siblings, a strong sense of justice, and I regret to say that my relation with them is often a bit more strained than with most people for the reasons above.

As an addendum:

I don't harm insects, and people who are around me in person will tell you I'm the gentlest person around. The only time I harm anything is out of defense or to be "humane".

Bullying growing up forged a mind that won't take it, ever. So, in a way, it was violence against me that made me "Hulk Smash".

I can see people with ASD, myself included, harbouring thoughts of violence towards any tormentors/bullies, past or present. Easily.

On more than one occasion years ago, I punched holes in my apartment wall (which I later plastered over) pretending that it was a certain bully's face. Then I got more productive and went to the gym, lifted weights and used the punching bag (with kicks as well), once again, pretending it was the bully.

For the past few years, I just go to the gym for workouts, and get on with my life. I remind myself of the ways in which life and people have treated me well so I can leave all the negative stuff behind, and I'm glad that I didn't react strongly with force to the negative stuff, or I would have missed out on a lot of the positive experiences and memories with me.

Actually I learned in my abnormal psychology class that people with schizophrenia are not on average more violent than people without it contrary to the common misconception that they would be more violent.

I admit I've gotten angry enough to slam things and punch walls rather than people, but as a rule I am not really a violent person at all I do not like the idea of causing harm to others.

I'd say less likely to be violent, but when they do get violent it tends to be more extreme.

That's just my own experience though.

I agree, I have sometimes explosive episodes of anger that last seconds, compared to NT's who can hold grudges for years