Talk:Asperger syndrome and interpersonal relationships

message: This page got speedily deleted within a few hours of my creating it the first time (for lack of content), so let's start creating/moving some text! Poindexter Propellerhead 16:39, 8 June 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: Untitled

message: Is it worth leaving this at the top of the entry, and following on with Partner/Family issues? 124.187.14.93 05:37, 9 June 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: Social Impact

message: Is this a worthwhile section? What could it be called, or is this title useful? 124.187.14.93 05:37, 9 June 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: Therapy and Self-Help Techniques

message: Causes of autism#Social construct used to contain the text below, but it has nothing to do with the causes of autism and really belongs on Asperger syndrome and interpersonal relationships if it belongs anywhere. I'm copying it to the following subsection in case one of the editors of this page wants to pick up the text. Eubulides 07:30, 30 July 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Asperger syndrome and courtship 

message: Now, we're not here to determine truth, rather, verifiability.   But it's verifiability to credible sources, credible literally meaning "believable", so we get tangled up in truth despite our fervent vow to the contrary.
Attwood has said some things that are ... disturbing ... in the sense of his being a present RS.   On the one hand, the man is huge in Asperger's, he is literally over 7,000 feet tall.    On the other hand, he is beginning to say stuff that isn't just false (let he without sin ...) but absurd prima face
In fairness to Attwood, excerpts from talks should not be given the same weight as work he has published and submitted to peer review.   It is *very* easy to make an incomplete extemperaneous remark, response to a question, or be taken out of context.
We've also got to be careful with Attwood; the book that made him famous was a general survey of the topic, not new research (Attwood, Tony. Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals, Jessica Kingseley Publishers).   This book was not peer reviewed nor subject to other academic standards.   I got curious about kingsley publishers and actually went thru most of the manuscript submission process.   If you pay them, they will print anything you want.   Editing costs extra.   If you want peer review, you provide them names of ppl who vouche for it.
Now, Attwood's fame and the world-recognized quality of his first book well compensate for this oddity, I believe.   But Attwood, unlike his classmate Baron-Cohen, has never done any scientific research (please somebody correct me if i'm wrong on this point.)  He himself repeatedly warns his conclusions are based on clinical data (experience with patients wandering in).   This introduces the now familiar Selection Bias problem that led freud to conclude the psyche could be cured by the application of greek mythology to the genitals.
With this background in mind, here are some things he has said.   Above we have the star-trek convention remark.   Here Attwood actively discourages partners of Aspies some seeking professional help, and guides them to 'grass root' internet forums : 
"With Asperger's, life is a stage," Attwood said.  "The curtain goes up while they are in public and down when they are at home.  Because other people do not see the problem, they question your sanity - you are on your own.  In some families, denial has held the family together for generations, and you want to bring down the scaffolding."  ...
"You cannot get this knowledge from professionals.  contact with other partners through newsletters, a support group, or an Internet site is vital"
[This is a disgraceful abdication of his own profession.   The reason you can't get this information from professionals is that it is unsubstantiated and indefensible.   Attwood could write this into his next book, thus making it available from professionals - but he knows that he can't.   The implication that only partners of aspies are fit to counsel other partners is troubling as well.   
A neuropsych disorder is no place for anti-intellectual folk psychology]
[There is another quotation where he says Aspie husband fall into 3 categories, all of which are bad.  i'll insert it later.]
Attwood nowhere suggests the NT may be the source of trouble in a relationship.  (There are lots more ways to be screwed up than the A. Spectrum!)
What is driving Attwood?   Where is the voice of reason, "if you're having trouble in a relationship with an Aspie, get yourself some professional and qualified advice and by the way - don't forget you may be the problem ..."
I can only guess.   It is worth noting that, autism began in the domain of psychology but is moving to the realm of neurology, psychopharmacology and genetics.   There isn't all that much for a psychologist to do for us.   They did enuf damage with the Ice Box mom theory already.
But partners of Aspies - cha-ching!   Traumatized by life events ... let's have a ... workshop !!!
Attwood and Aston do business together, along with an organization called FAAAS.  They put on workshops here in the US, Attwood speaks, he gets paid, promotes his books as well.   Along with Karen Rodman, founder of FAAAS, they form a transnational unholy trinity spanning the US, UK, and Australia.     
Aston always - always - references attwood in her essays to get reflected credibility.   She likes to put her name and his in the same sentence.   Aston publishes through - you guessed it - Jessica Kingseley Publishers, so there are no pesky issues with peer review or even editing.
And worst of all, Attwood's latest book, The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome
, has a very stange last chapter.   All about relationships, filled with references to Aston (who has done no scientific research.)   But check the bibliography - the last chapter doesn't exist.   It appears the last chapter was added late in the publication process, after all his other sources were vetted.  For Attwood to expend his credibility on the likes of Aston seems tragic to me.
I should close by saying that I believe Tony is a man of great intellect and great heart who appears to respect and even admire some aspie differences.    But I believe there are serious questions as to Attwood's credibility.   Remember his publications slipped by peer review, i think he has used up his free 'pass' at this point and we have to look at him more critically.  My issue with Attwood is not political.   Baron Cohen has said some pretty vile things, but he backs them up with research so i consider him a sterling source.
I may cross-post this to the main Asp talk page ... </rant> CC
This is just SO irresponsible. Attwood is about to get a personal flea in his ear from me on this:
***
"With Asperger's, life is a stage," Attwood said. "The curtain goes up while they are in public and down when they are at home. Because other people do not see the problem, they question your sanity - you are on your own. In some families, denial has held the family together for generations, and you want to bring down the scaffolding." ...
"You cannot get this knowledge from professionals. contact with other partners through newsletters, a support group, or an Internet site is vital"''
***
Has he ever BEEN to an "internet support forum", does he have a single CLUE how toxic and abusive most of them are right up to Admin/Guru level?
Was he drunk? --Zeraeph 14:26, 3 August 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: Has Attwood lost his freakin' mind???

message: From "Will I ever fit in?: the breakthrough program for conquering adult dyssemia" by Stephen Nowicki. If I'm not mistaken its the inability to socially fit in.
Is Adult Dyssemia related to Asperger Syndrome in some way???
-Bill
Nov 23, 2007  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.231.201.225 (talk) 19:31, 23 November 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Adult Dyssemia?