Parenthood: Aspie Kid or Spoiled Brat?

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I relate a lot to Max, especially when I was a kid.

As a kid I came off as intrinsically self-centered. I'd get angry any time I didn't get my way.

My parents often comment I don't show enough affection or interest in them (so, the episode where the dad is upset that Max ignores him definitely rang true). Plus, my mom similarly hates that I instinctively flinch away from being touched.

I found it hard to gauge who my friends were and who was making fun of me as a kid - looking back now, they got me to do things since they were making fun of me rather than wanting to be friends with me.

The friends that I did have, it was typically one-sided with me getting upset whenever I didn't get my way. I was controlling and sometimes they went to my parents for help like Max's friend does.

I'm a film guy, so I've often taken videos for my cousins' weddings. My mom is always on me that I should appear in the videos as well, rather than just disappearing behind the camera. Apparently I use the camera at inappropriate times since I'm sometimes repeatedly told to put it away like Max is.

There's a scene where he hijacks a computer to print something while not caring that he is hijacking the computer, I'd do that all the time and never got what the issue was and why people were mad.

I'd refuse to eat certain foods, so definitely related to the character in bluntly saying that his dad's pancakes weren't the same as his mom's - as well as Max deciding to make his own food since he didn't want what the parents were having.

Demanded or sought rewards for doing what my parents wanted me to do.

I've startled away a couple girls due to coming on too strong in showing affection like Max does in the final season.

I'd say the only real difference is Max has poorer eye contact than I have, he's a lot more blunt in some regards, and he has physical and verbal meltdowns whereas mine have been internal. Same traits, just his are a tad bit more severe than mine.

With that said, Max's family was clearly rich due to his father's job, so - relating to Max may be a combination of being an aspie and a "silver spoon fed rich brat."

These days - progressing more towards being like Hank, but Hank has it together a lot better than I do. Granted, I'm 30 and he's mid to late 50's (judging off of Ray Ramano's age when it aired).

Just because it modified the behavior doesn't mean it "worked."
Elsa learned to repress her ice powers but that only made them harder for her to control. Her parents succeeded only in making her act like she was okay, not fixing the actual problem which was her inability to control her powers.
This happens in real life too but the Disney movie is an easier reference point.