Has anyone given thought to Michel Foucault's concept of social construction? So, to Foucault, both sex (male<->female) and sexual orientation (heterosexual<->homosexual) were constructions and were maintained by those in positions of power. In other words, sex and sexual orientation do not exist, per se. They are, rather, simply names used, as part of our social narratives or discourses, to reinforce existing power structures.
Similarly, there has been considerable debate over AS. Is it high-functioning autism? Is it a separate condition on the spectrum of pervasive developmental "disorders"? Currently, the American Psychiatric Association is considering placing AS under a new category of Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders in its upcoming DSM-V codebook.
From this standpoint, AS, like sex and sexual orientation, does not exist. It is merely a way in which people with high power statuses categorize (label) certain members of a population. Hence, whether AS is a disorder or merely an example of genetic diversity depends on one's perspective. Since one is dealing merely with words, there is no way to objectively address this issue.
Cheers,
Mark
The idea of social construction is a very interesting one. It's clear that AS is more than a construction; there are physical differences in the brain, but it might exist as one in varying levels.
Functioning labels are probably constructions. There have been "low functioning autistics" who are intelligent insightful people.
I think it may be possible for AS/autism to become a model for introversion, and extend beyond the boundaries of AS/autism. If we create distinct artistic styles, some NTs may like the style for it's introversion/monotrophism. That might open the eyes of some, make them question whether theres only one way to live. At that point the physical differences in the brain may become less important.
The idea of social construction is a very interesting one. It's clear that AS is more than a construction; there are physical differences in the brain, but it might exist as one in varying levels.
IMO, AS is a construction. However, the apparently similar attributes in different persons, which have been selectively placed under its rubric are not necessarily constructions (especially if they are neurological).
I think it may be possible for AS/autism to become a model for introversion, and extend beyond the boundaries of AS/autism. If we create distinct artistic styles, some NTs may like the style for it's introversion/monotrophism. That might open the eyes of some, make them question whether theres only one way to live. At that point the physical differences in the brain may become less important.
Yes, I would suspect that people with AS would score high on the introversion scale of the Meyers-Briggs test.
Similarly, persons with schizoid personality disorder are frequently INTPs or INTJs (the "I" for introversion).
In my own case, I wondered, after being recently diagnosed with AS, whether, in fact, I might have that personality disorder (and AS was, at one time, called schizoid disorder in children). However, my symptoms go back to early childhood, whereas schizoid personality disorder typically develops in late adolescence or early adulthood. Originally, I was diagnosed as autistic. A later psychiatrist changed that to schizophrenia, which had a disastrous affect on my childhood in terms of medical treatments.
Mark
To avoid confusions, It is necessary to stand out that as according to Foucault's theories the power doesn't reside on governors, is present in every ralation's.
Currently, the American Psychiatric Association is considering placing AS under a new category of Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders in its upcoming DSM-V codebook.
yeah it's only a name but even this way AS have some differences from the Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders Symptomatology
To avoid confusions, It is necessary to stand out that as according to Foucault's theories the power doesn't reside on governors, is present in every ralation's.
Yes. The approach I use is called "critical poststructuralism." It is a combination of Marxist, neo-Marxist, and post-Marxist approaches with poststructuralism. I agree with Foucault that power is situated in all relational contexts. However, from my perspective, the narratives of those who are in power are the ones most worthy of concern and "deconstruction."
yeah it's only a name but even this way AS have some differences from the Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders Symptomatology
I know. I have been diagnosed with both (though the pure OCD part was mostly when I was a kid).
Mark
Has anyone given thought to Michel Foucault's concept of social construction?
Yes, and it's stretched way too far by its current advocates. Is gravity a social construction? Is Planck's Constant a social construction? Is a broken arm a social construction? Is AS a social construction? At what point do actual physical differences or states become social constructions?
Yes, and it's stretched way too far by its current advocates. Is gravity a social construction? Is Planck's Constant a social construction? Is a broken arm a social construction? Is AS a social construction? At what point do actual physical differences or states become social constructions?
The phenomena are genuine. However, how we label and categorize it is a construction.
Mark
Yes, and it's stretched way too far by its current advocates. Is gravity a social construction? Is Planck's Constant a social construction? Is a broken arm a social construction? Is AS a social construction? At what point do actual physical differences or states become social constructions?
The phenomena are genuine. However, how we label and categorize it is a construction.
Mark
In the same way "bed" is a social construction because it's only by means of social convention "bed" actually refers to what it does.
Gender and sexual orientation certainly aren't social constructions any more than a bed is a social construction.
IMO, "bed" is a construction. There are only particular objects, constructed by humans, which, in turn, are given that label. As with any label, there are generally parameters for inclusion. What, for instance, is the demarcation between a bed and a sofa? Even more difficult, where does drizzle end and light rain begin?
Similarly, gender and sexual orientation are social constructions. Many individuals actually fall somewhere on a continuum between gay and straight. Does one, on the one hand, define such a person as a bisexual or, on the other hand, ask which orientation, homosexual or heterosexual, their preference most clearly approximates? It is arbitrary and purely a matter of word definitions.
Similar points can be made about sex itself. For instance, some sexologists say that there are actually five distinct sexes, from one point of view, and only one sex (female), from another. Whether there are five sexes, two sexes, one sex, or perhaps some other enumeration depends, once again, on one's definitions.
Mark
When it comes to sex, the only definition that's any useful is the biological one, and it's clear that there are only two biological sexes in humans.