Fuck Yeah, Sherlock.

earlfoolish:

Okay so I decided to do a little bit of research then. I should say from the start that I do not in any way mean that my way of reading Sherlock is correct and that everyone else is wrong. I’m just saying that this is one way of reading him and that it’s as valid as anything else.

nailpolish pointed out that Sherlock doesn’t meet the minimum requirement for Asperger’s according to DSM IV. I’m not certain but I think that what is used in the UK is ICD-10, but let’s roll with DSM IV for the sake of argument.

The requirements are as follows (with my notes after each section)

A. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:

1. marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction.
2. failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level.
3. a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g. by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people).
4. lack of social or emotional reciprocity.

I think Sherlock meets at least 2 and 4, and possibly 3 depending on how you see it. Sherlock doesn’t share. he does it sometimes, to show off, but he doesn’t share how he thinks unless he is specifically asked to. He’s witheld important information from John and gone off on his own. It’s not certain that this is on purpose, I think many times he simply doesn’t think of the fact that it might be a good thing to tell John what’s going on.

B. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:

1. encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus.
2. apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals.
3. stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements).
4. persistent preoccupation with parts of objects.

Let’s see.

1. He lives for his cases, his work. It’s really all he cares about.
3. We’ve talked about the stimming already.
4. Sherlock is bloody obsessed with details. 

C. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning

I would say he’s socially impaired. I don’t think he particularly cares, though.

D. There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g., single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years).

E. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood.

F. Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia.

Can’t really say yes or no regarding D or E, since we don’t know. And I’m not read up on Schizophrenia, but there you have it. He might not be textbook, but I still very much see it as a valid interpretation.

SUPER INTERESTING, as well as informative outside of Sherlock fandom.

(via 148km)