I do not like the term "self diagnosis". It sounds like unqualified people playing doctor with themselves.

Diagnosis implies a disorder or illness. I have neither. I do not require diagnosis. Autism may be a distinct neurotype, in fact I am almost certain that it is. But in the absence of an objective test we could perhaps see it as 2 categories: a medical condition requiring diagnosis and support. And as a personality type that has some non-debilitating deficits and benefits from self awareness and knowledge. The former befits from professional diagnosis. The latter benefits from what is commonly referred to as self-diagnosis, but may be disadvantaged by a professional diagnosis.

I am thinking out loud here. Not publishing a scientific paper. Discussion welcome.

If you self-diagnose what you are, no matter whether it's a pathological disorder or some neurotype, then you're self-diagnosed.

If I were black then I would not feel the need to tell people that I was self-diagnosed as black. If I were shy then I would not feel the need to tell people that I was self-diagnosed as shy. If i have a cold... Ditto. I think "self aware" HFA or aspie makes more sense, since I am not a doctor and I am not qualified to diagnose anyone, including myself.

Diagnose isn't just a medical term. Diagnose means to find out the nature or cause of anything.

Self-awareness is the ability to tell yourself apart from your surroundings and be introspective. That is a basic facet of human consciousness. It has little to do with self-identification or self-diagnosis.

Self Diagnosis is a good thing if it helps identify personal problems and shortcomings that you need to deal

it is why I pay attention to psychopathy to make sure my trats are the benign traits

While I was labeled Autists by the medical profession I have always considered my psycopathic  traits more important

psychopathic?

Some people on the higher end of the anti-social spectrum have autism as well. I highly suspect I am too.

I'm not qualified to know (not self DX) but isn't that what you're doing if you self DX? How do you know? I know I always felt different and was an outsider etc but the problem is, I was obviously special needs as a kid but I'm not sure if I'd have ever labeled myself correctly.

I see your point about the 2 groups. Should there be a clear distinction between the two? Would the second group become some kind of fan club or group of "wannabes"? Please don't misunderstand me on this. I'm not anti self DX, I just don't understand it... and the fanclub/wannabe idea seems really odd and makes no sense to me. Why the hell would someone fake being autistic anyway? It doesn't exactly make for an easy or successful(relatively speaking) life. But it keeps being suggested so I have to guess that people might.

Please don't flame me. EEeek.


Edit: maybe I should just say: Self DX, how does that work anyway?

This post was last modified: 01-26-2012 10:18 PM by 41 6c 79.

Suspecting you're a psychopath is not a healthy thing to do off the cuff.
A psychopath is a person with no sense of compassion with glib charm (i.e. no actual content), is quick to accusations, says anything to get their way even if it's hypocritical and puts on a mask of sanity.

Psychopathy and Autism being linked is something from Kanner's day. That it continues today is suspect.

This post was last modified: 01-26-2012 10:20 PM by Gedrene.

Just about all Autists especially Aspies share some of the benign traits of psychopathy

Surprised you didnt know that


As I say, I wish to make sure I have no more than the benign traits

While others who come here are investigating traits of Autism in themselves, I already know I am considered Autistic

So my personal investigation looks at psychopathy

This post was last modified: 01-26-2012 10:21 PM by skyblue1 .

Maybe that's why people think aspies are fake; they assume self DX is incorrect.

Fair enough but maybe you should look at paranoia.

Which ones?

Psychopaths are extremely adept at reading others but are incredibly incompassionate. Autistic people are said to be the opposite way. 142 was nothing how his child felt extreme unwillingness to respond to his other child's domineering behaviour.

As I said up above. Comparing autism to psychopathy is from the time when Kanner said 'autistic psychopathy'.
There is nothing benign about psychopathy.

Asperger was responsible for that terminology, not Kanner

AFAIK autism is more commonly mistaken for schizophrenia but I have heard of the psychopathy thing.