Cats and dogs

[kippurbird]

I got my brain picked yesterday by someone who works at the Library who's going to be working with a kid with autism. It's very tiring that. It's like trying to figure out how to explain how you breathe or something. Anyway I ended up coming up with a very useful metaphor for the differences between Autistic and Normal people and the way that they interact with each other.

Normal people are like dogs. They're pack animals. They need the interaction of the pack, the social group to feel safe and comfortable. Often times they will mimick the pack leader to make sure that they aren't expelled from the pack or society, which would be the worse thing that could happen to them. They need the interaction so that they know what to do and what is acceptable and things like that.

Autistic people on the other hand are like cats. They aren't "pack animals" they are perfectly able to live alone by themselves, coming in contact with others only when they need to. They can live in groups, but they don't need a pack leader to tell them how to act or what to do because they have no group society that tells them what'll happen if they do something wrong. Nothing is socially wrong, except for things like territory. Territory being things we own or favorite spots or even our scheduals and routines.

I imagine it needs some clean up and work, but I think the basic idea is solid.

Comments

[huinesoron.livejournal.com]

Well, that makes me far more autistic in character than normal...

...

... but that's hardly surprising. I just do it voluntarily.

Maybe it explains why I hate dogs but love cats, too...

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

Well you know what they say, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and looks like a duck, it's probably a duck.

[huinesoron.livejournal.com]

Or a very dedicated duck impersonator.

[elvea-aure.livejournal.com]

Heh- looking at the way you defined it, I'm kind of autistic too. It's a great metaphor though. :)

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

Well I'm certain everyone has some autistic traits, it's just when they out number the non autistic traits that you're called autistic.

[charliesmum.livejournal.com]

That is a very good anology. I will have to remember that.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. ^_^ I'm just not too certain how true it is though. I think it's true though.