Why Are People With Asperger’s Robotic?

If the person who asked this question had been a neurotypical, I would have offered the following reply: How similar is a neurotypical person who asks this kind of question to the part of the body which most resembles the tied opening of a dark-colored balloon?

The thing is, you have identified yourself as having Asperger’s. So I will do my best to honor your question.

Personality and behavior are not the same thing.

Asperger’s is a minority personality. Robotic behavior is not.

Typical treatment for children / people with Asperger’s centers on altering their behavior, and not on teaching them to better see (and respect) their personality as being different but no less valuable.

The point is, robotic behavior in humans almost always indicates they are in a state of shock.

What does this have to do with Asperger’s?

When a person who has an Asperger’s personality behaves robotically, it is because this person is trying to imitate normal behavior, rather than be themselves. Attempts to imitate normal almost always depersonalize people and put them into shock. Thus these misguided attempts to make us fit in almost always result in robotic behavior. Not being “yourself” IS being in shock.

Ironic, isn’t it? The very thing intended to help us deepens and even contributes to the thing they want us to change. Admittedly, many of these attempts are well-intended and sincere. In truth though, whenever I think about how often this is done to us (and to people with the other three minority personalities), I have a hard time not using the “f” word. We are and always will be human beings and deserve to be treated with respect.