Batman has autism?
February 22, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
From Linkmachinego.com:
Ask Metafilter: How would one become Batman? … ”Then it dawned on me… Batman is a savant. He is a highly functioning savant to be slightly more accurate. He reads a book and knows it, he hears something ans [sic] remembers it. He sees patterns everywhere, and understands them. This idea, is humanly possible (maybe) and makes him knowing so much pretty easy. The rest is in the training… and with enough time and money and drive to do it, he could be lethal. Especially if we go the savant route because learning where and when to strike would wouldn’t take as much training. Batman has a very rare form of autism.
Is this an example of someone reading too much into one superhero? Or of the pervasiveness of autism?
Does Batman have autism or does Bruce Wayne have autism? Of course, I’d say neither.
One never knows with these superheroes……….
Oh, I dunno… it could be true. I’ve been a big fan ever since I was a kid (BIFF! BAM!) &, knowing what I do now about autism, it seems quite possible. For example, Bruce Wayne’s playboy side could be an act, & I know from experiences with my own kid that acting on a stage can come more naturally than regular social interaction. Batman’s interactions with others have a much more formal/uncomfortable feel. If Bruce Wayne sees himself “really” as Batman, then he could be letting his “aspie” side shine as Batman & let the necessary acting (to keep this identity a secret) be his “Bruce Wayne” persona.
My main objection to this bit of speculation is the ignorance of calling it a “very rare form of autism”. I think this is how many people do function in public, leaving their secret, “true” selves for private life… Hmmm, maybe this is why I’ve been a super-hero freak for most of my life…?
I think I had heard the “Batman/ autism” reference in some other context; can’t think of what……. I agree, I am not sure what is meant by saying “a very rare form of autism.” Just autism seems that it ought to be sufficient.