autism as a multidimensional continuum

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I was thinking about this today when I encountered someone who seems to have autistic/aspie traits.

And, thinking about the traits I see in him, and those that have I have had in my life, it struck me, that you just can't draw a simple line from more autistic to less autistic. It's not that simple. Instead of a linear continuum (or linear spectrum) from most severe, through less severe, to least severe, to NT, rather, there's different dimensions, different traits or sets of traits, each of which can vary in severity. (And can vary both from person to person, or vary in time within one person.)

For me, the word "spectrum" brings to mind simply the idea of different colors, and so the word fits with the idea of a multi-dimensional continuum. For some though, the word spectrum might bring to mind the idea of of a single linear continuum, like the different wavelengths of light, and that contrasts with the idea of a multi-dimensional continuum.

The thing is that no two people on the spectrum have the exact cluster of traits and symptoms, either.

its more a cyclical downward spriral

A spectrum in four dimensions would be funny. Imagine trying to think of autism like this:
Tesseract

I very much like the idea of autism as a multi-dimensional continuum.

I can see it being that on the individual level, arguably. But that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about autism in general, and the differences between different people with autism (including Asperger's) and autistic traits. "Cyclical downward spiral" doesn't even make sense in that context.

Sounds like what they are calling the "broader autism phenotype." There are a number of articles out there on the subject and even an OkCupid test for it. I think the majority of my life has been spent in a broader autism phenotype bubble--all my immediate family members, the few real friends I've made over the years. Most of them are a lot better at passing for normal and interacting with their peers than I am, though.

Not necessarly - even with an one-dimensional view of autism, you will have "broader autism phenotype"; the big difference when you include several dimensions is that you can have several distinct types of mild autism and of BAP (for example, you can have a "broader autism phenotype" when you have strong social deficits but no need for routine, and other type of bap where you are relativelly socially normal , but you have a strong need of routine)

Said better than I could have. Thanks.

Ok, I see what you mean now--I guess I haven't really been thinking of particular traits as fitting on a linear spectrum, just the constellation of traits. Once you start trying to separate out individual characteristics, it starts getting really messy.

http://www.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/teaching/ ... index.html




Yes, color code a tesseract to represent the spectrum, I definitely approve.

I like that phrase.