rivercrow

The December 2006 issue of the Journal of Psychological Type, which is published by the Center for Applications of Psychological Type, presented a study suggesting that folks diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome might actually be unrecognized/undeveloped IxTPs. One of the points the author discusses is that mothers of kids diagnosed with the syndrome seem to prefer ExFJ. The theory is that, because IxTP children appear so alien to ExFJ mothers, the women apparently connect “different” with “defective” and haul the kids off to the doctor. I’d recommend the article to anyone; it is only available to subscribers of JPT (US$36).

Chester, Robert G. (2006). Asperger’s Syndrome and Psychological Type. Journal of Psychological Type, Dec 06, 114-137.

I’ve been rereading the study for the last day or so, thinking about it associatively, probably not in any sufficiently constructive manner to be considered a review. The random notes I’ve made reflect my own irritation at our culture’s dependency on pathologies than offer any insightful commentary on the text.

Chester quotes a paraphrase of Jung:

One’s type implies a developmental pathway through life. The 16 paths differ in just the ways that the types themselves differ. When a child is allowed and encouraged to stay on the path, the development that results is strong and healthy. If circumstances, including school life, push the child off the path, development is hindered; the child’s energy goes into non-integrated skills and defenses; the process of becoming one’s own person is slowed or stalled; and in adult life this person will have neuroses that absorb much energy and require still more energy to overcome.

This concept, that each of the types has a specific development path, still intrigues me. I remember the first time I read about this in Gifts Differing; I remember thinking, “Aha! I wasn’t all screwed up!” In retrospect, I can see that I have followed somewhat the INTP development path. Certainly, my social graces have improved (they were non-existent, now they are rudimentary). I have learned not to point out all flaws and mistakes. I think, though, I have acquired some of the neuroses alluded to: insecurity because I am aware of my social klutziness, defensiveness because I don’t operate like the majority of women (who prefer Feeling).

Marti Laney’s book, The Introvert Advantage, has sections on introvert/extravert parent/child combinations. She discusses how extraverted parents need to understand that their introverted offspring process information very differently than they do; she also suggests coping strategies the kids could learn so they can learn to work with their introversion. I’ve found her suggestions useful now and wish I’d heard them as a youngster. It would have done the young me a world of good to know how to acceptably withdraw from overwhelming situations, rather than just be lectured on how I should be enjoying myself and making the other folks happy.

Laney’s book and the JPT article merged together in my head into a reminder that we cannot assume we all experience the world similarly. I had my husband (ISFJ) read the comments in Chester’s article about over-stimulation; later, he also read Laney’s thoughts on the same topic. My husband is not as introverted as I am–a detail that has caused a fair amount of friction between us. After reading these materials, he understood for the first time why I need quiet time to recharge. To be fair, seeing my reflection in these pages helped me learn to articulate what I was feeling more effectively. I put our understanding to the test last month and was delighted that it worked: he let me have space, I was able to withdraw gracefully from the social engagement I’d been put in, and we concluded the evening without any sour feelings.

When my sister, who is a registered nurse, was working with autistic kids in the early 90s, she came to the conclusion that the entire family had autistic tendencies. (She also believed magnetic mattress covers were cure-alls for a while.) Some years later, when her son was under two years old, she took him to a vocational therapist, convinced that he was not progressing fast enough. I remember being confused by her insistence that he live up to some statistical description of development (he was a little behind here and a little ahead there, IIRC). Our parents were bemused by her panic, but wisely and uncharacteristically remained quiet. I, having no children, decided to keep quiet too, although I wondered what would happen as the son aged. He’s entering his teens now, and, yes, his mother has diagnosed him with a number of ailments over the years. He has officially–by a neurologist–been diagnosed as having Tourette’s syndrome. My sister seems content at last; it’s as though having a pathological reason for “differentness” gives her some necessary solace. Very odd.

My sister’s behavior confirms for me a need in some folks for pathological reasons to find acceptance for variance. To me, this concept is unwieldy. Why should we have to conform to a standard? And why should majority rule at all times?

(Or does this just reveal my own extraverted perceiving preference? It does show my general-to-specific intuitive thought processes.)

Trackback URI | Comments RSS