Twilight And Fluttershy Have Aspergers?

[Dr. Eggnog 203]

I don't think Twilight is socially awkward, she actually adapted to having a social life amazingly well!  She's just rather OCD is all.

[Cowl 128]

Twilight has Aspergers...

I don't think so.

 

From my vast amounts of learning in the subject of psychology (a grand total of 1 semester of Abnormal Psych ... lol)

 

Twilight is much more likely to have OCPD (OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE PERSONALITY DISORDER).

 

First of all, there is no hint that her IQ is adversely affected by any developmental disorder (any form of Autism). Also her knowledge of magic is not nearly encyclopedic. She doesn't know every spell and her knowledge is not just limited magic.

 

Likewise OCD (obsesive compulsive disorder) is right out, because she doesn't have obsessions or compulsions. Ok I know what your thinking... She is obsessive about her work. Wrong, obsessions for OCD are like being convinced that someone is in your house and going to murder you in your sleep (every night) so you have a compulsion to go check your house 3 times for intruders while making sure that every door and window is locked (triple checking the locks each time), every night before going to sleep.

 

Having OCPD is much more likely because of her fixation on making lists and completing tasks. Likewise her mental breakdowns are associated with failing at these tasks which she feels that she must complete and they must be perfect.

Edited February 10, 2013 by Cowl

[ceri 0]

I think the OP is just projecting his condition onto Twilight and Fluttershy. They are just introverted and shy, respectively.

No.
They are not. Its called Introversion and shyness. Twilight being smart
is a result cuz well, shes smart. Shes is socially awkward but so are
many people without Aspergers. And Fluttershy can understand others.
Shes just shy. Its called personality traits. Just because someone is
like that doesn't mean they have the disorder.

This.

[Shanks 10,816]

My brother has Aspergers and I can definitely say that Twilight and Fluttershy do not express any of it's symptoms, like, I mean, absolutely none at all.

I wouldn't go as far as to say they have none of the traits at all as the traits the creator of this topic mentioned are indeed common with Aspergers and he is right on on some of them though even if he did interpret things a bit broadly in some areas but even that of course dosen't automatically make them have Aspergers anymore than it disqualifies them from having it altogether. And there are some people with Aspergers that might not have one of the common traits mentioned in this topic.

 

I have always said that once you have met a person with Autism you have met a person with Autism and I as an aspie am nothing like Fluttershy with the notable exception of liking animals especially dogs. I do have a lot in common with Twilight though I also have a pretty heavy mix of Applejack in there too who out of the Mane 6 is probably the least likely to have Aspergers. I used to have some of Twilights OCD like qualities in my younger years but grew out of most of them, but still retain my inquisitive mind and love of reading and learning. It is hard to say how much of this is due to my Aspergers and how much of would have just been the way I would have turned out anyway as the mind is a very complicated thing.

[Caesar2013 22]

Remember, just because they may or may not have Aspergers, does not mean that either Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle traits.

[RWB 229]

Would everybody stop acting like there would be something wrong with the characters having these disorders? There isn't, and getting all defensive about it is just rude.

[Caesar2013 22]

Would everybody stop acting like there would be something wrong with the characters having these disorders? There isn't, and getting all defensive about it is just rude.

Actually, it's more of a good thing that they have it. Let's see some people in history who had Aspergers (or symptoms): Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla (Definately I suspect), Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Edison, and a whole lot more.

[Shanks 10,816]

Would everybody stop acting like there would be something wrong with the characters having these disorders? There isn't, and getting all defensive about it is just rude.

I haven't really seen any implication from anyone here that there would be anything wrong with Twilight or Fluttershy having Aspergers just that since there really isn't any confirmation one way or the other anything said about whether or not they have it is speculation. If they were to introduce a character that had it or confirm one way or another that either Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy or perhaps some other character had it than I think it could be a great teaching moment but if they didn't it wouldn't be the end of the world. I have said many times that one of the things that upset me about Derpy being censored was the implication that it is inapropriate to portray characters who are disabled or in this case characters perceived as being disabled in the show so I understand where you are coming from but don't think it applies to this particular topic.

Edited February 13, 2013 by EarthbendingProdigy

[Pinkazoid 3,493]

Eh, I doubt so, I honestly don't like these threads there's countless of them each diagnosing each of the Mane 6, I got friends with Aspergers, and while some of the ponies do have the symptoms, I wouldn't relate them to it.

[Scootalove 10,689]

Not to me. Twilight just loves reading books and most of the time. Fluttershy is shy but, that is basically her personality. I see people that have symptoms, but Twilight and Fluttershy don't really have any aspergers.

[MeanBlackHawk 147]

I honestly suspect that Fluttershy is on the Spectrum more so than our dear friend, Twilight. However, Twilight also shows symptoms as well. But in the meantime I'll just examine them further without any psychology experience (except I took a semester of it in high school)

Ok, I see where you're coming from, but I have a friend that I haven't been close to or talking to since we first met in the 6th grade.  This friend is EXACTLY like Fluttershy.  He isn't physical, he isn't one to go out and start a conversation, and when he was asked a question he would take about 7-15 seconds to answer the question.  It was very awkward indeed and nobody seemed to take the time to talk to him.  After years and years he finally opened up and he's now like my best friend.  I kid you not we are best friends and he is actually one of the funniest people I have ever talked to.  He hasn't just opened up to me, but to everyone at our school (mostly our grade).  I am proud of him, though he may take a longer than the social norm of answering a question withing 1-3 seconds, he thinks out his answers and is very funny, kind and smart.  

So to me I just think Fluttershy just needs to come out of her shell, but she wont because she's just VERY shy.  Hence the name. 

[Lady Leopardess 393]

Personally I think it's very very unlikely that the creators thought " let's make characters with this mental disorder! " especially in a kids show. As I understand it Derpy's voice actor wasn't even trying to portray anything like that either. 

 So could they be similar? possibly although it might be because it seems like it because you want that to be the case.

Are they actually though? No ,not unless the creators intended that , which I think is quite unlikely.

Just like you could probably Twilight is OCD about studying and organizing her books , but probably the creators just wanted to show her serious about her studies, which include organization and the actual studying ,which is part of what got her to be Celestia's student.

Almost every show has a shy character like fluttershy and the brains of the group ,which is Twilight.

example Sailor Moon

Twilight - Ami (focused on studying not socializing)

Rainbow Dash-  Sailor Uranus (athletic, competitive  )

Rarity - Minako ( wanting to be popular/well known ) or Sailor Neptune ( high class character)

Fluttershy - Hotaru/Ami (shyness and caring)

Applejack - Jupiter ( good friend , relaxed manners)

Pinkie Pie - Minako (crazy plans/action)

[Zygen 6,066]

Well Its possible to consider alot of the mane 6 to have traits associated with mental disorders of all kinds, but I don't think that they do really.

 

I think the fact that Twilight studies all the time is because she loves to study magic, and that was all she really knew for a while. So she spent a whole lot of time studying it. Therefore she is very knowledgeable on the subject. Also her personality is that of introverted person so thats why she spends alot of time studying. Shes socially awkward a bit because of the fact she is a introvert and spent alot of time studying and didn't care for having friends.

 

Fluttershy actually seems to be quite empathetic in my eyes, but I guess its up for interpretation. However I think her shyness is from her being teased which caused her also to have less social experience and be a bit socially awkward due to this. I have the same type of thing somewhat, being a shy person and still am, I was kinda socially awkward I guess you could say in a way.

 

While its up to how you interpret it, I think its just their personalities.

[Unique Pinkie Pie 173]

I wouldn't be too surprised if some of the MLP characters

Did resemble any sort of mental health disorder

Since there are many other shows that have characters

That could easily be diagnosed with some form of mental health disorder

eh hem lets clear something up 

 

asbergers is not a dishorder

and

a dishorder can be dementia or mania

so please stop using the word dishorder for disabilitys

[Aeon Of Dreams 115]

I would say that whether or not they are just socially awkward or are aspies is completely up the the observer. As an aspie myself I can assure to everyone from personal experience and from knowing others like me that it is not a disorder or disease of any kind.

Edited February 13, 2013 by The Oneiromancer

[Lady Leopardess 393]

eh hem lets clear something up 

 

asbergers is not a dishorder

and

a dishorder can be dementia or mania

so please stop using the word dishorder for disabilitys

ok sorry what's the latest PC term ? Since they change they keep changing what they call some things.

As someone who is disabled, I don't get what all the fuss is about with terminology. Words like "condition" or " illness" or "disorder" are honestly only as positive or negative as you personally make them.

I think I've heard some with asbergers and such say it's NOT a disability because apparently it's offensive to people to be called disabled.

Then again I'm just legally blind and have two genetic eye conditions/diseases 

[Unique Pinkie Pie 173]

ok sorry what's the latest PC term ? Since they change they keep changing what they call some things.

As someone who is disabled, I don't get what all the fuss is about with terminology. Words like "condition" or " illness" or "disorder" are honestly only as positive or negative as you personally make them.

I think I've heard some with asbergers and such say it's NOT a disability because apparently it's offensive to people to be called disabled.

Then again I'm just legally blind and have two genetic eye conditions/diseases 

right lets make this straight 

 

disability: a disability can happen with a fault in the brain e.g. not creating chemical this can lead to mental differences in both social or showing intelligence or movement disability's can not happen by disease or by actual genetics e.g. it cant be passed down

 

disorders: disorders happen in a different way for instance a psychopath can be caused by bruising the frontal lobe (this is where your emotions are) and cause the effected person to go as you would say insane, mania is caused by the person not caring about anything and after a while it stays in their brain thus becoming part of them dementia is usually cause by different kind of fault in the brain

[Aeon Of Dreams 115]

ok sorry what's the latest PC term ? Since they change they keep changing what they call some things.

As someone who is disabled, I don't get what all the fuss is about with terminology. Words like "condition" or " illness" or "disorder" are honestly only as positive or negative as you personally make them.

I think I've heard some with asbergers and such say it's NOT a disability because apparently it's offensive to people to be called disabled.

Then again I'm just legally blind and have two genetic eye conditions/diseases

 

Not to throw in a post about semantics, but...

 

Now I know this was not really a reply to me personally, but I was one of the people who said it was not a disorder or disease, so I might as well throw in another 2 cents. "Illness", "disability", and "disease" are not by any means subjectively positive or negative in the slightest bit, at least not by the definitions of them that I read, in fact the only word you mentioned where that does apply is "condition".

 

To quote dictionary.com

 

Illness-unhealthy condition; poor health; indisposition; sickness.

 

Disorder-a disturbance in physical or mental health or functions; malady or dysfunction:

 

Disease-any harmful, depraved, or morbid condition, as of the mind or society

 

Nothing subjective there.

Edited February 13, 2013 by The Oneiromancer

[Lady Leopardess 393]

Not to throw in a post about semantics, but...

 

Now I know this was not really a reply to me personally, but I was one of the people who said it was not a disorder or disease, so I might as well throw in another 2 cents. "Illness", "disability", and "disease" are not by any means subjectively positive or negative in the slightest bit, at least not by the definitions of them that I read, in fact the only word you mentioned where that does apply is "condition".

 

To quote dictionary.com

 

Illness-unhealthy condition; poor health; indisposition; sickness.

 

Disorder-a disturbance in physical or mental health or functions; malady or dysfunction:

 

Disease-any harmful, depraved, or morbid condition, as of the mind or society

 

Nothing subjective there.

perhaps "positive" was the incorrect way to word it. 

 

What I was trying to say was that I know different  psychological names for things have been changed over time because certain terms were later viewed as "bad" because society's perception of the word. I'm blanking on examples besides I know like Multiple Personality Syndrome got changed to DID .

People want to be called something less "bad" sounding.

 

By those definitions listed though you could say autism is a disease since it can be harmful to a person's social interactions/abilities .

 

On the same thing though those are vague definitions though.

 

I"m not trying to start a fight. I just find it frustrating that it doesn't seem like there's ever an easy PC way to refer to these things >>; . I try and then it seems like people get insulted if I use incorrect terminology.

Edited February 13, 2013 by Lady Leopardess

[Aeon Of Dreams 115]

perhaps "positive" was the incorrect way to word it. 

 

What I was trying to say was that I know different  psychological names for things have been changed over time because certain terms were later viewed as "bad" because society's perception of the word. I'm blanking on examples besides I know like Multiple Personality Syndrome got changed to DID .

People want to be called something less "bad" sounding.

 

By those definitions listed though you could say autism is a disease since it can be harmful to a person's social interactions/abilities .

 

On the same thing though those are vague definitions though.

 

I"m not trying to start a fight. I just find it frustrating that it doesn't seem like there's ever an easy PC way to refer to these things >>; . I try and then it seems like people get insulted if I use incorrect terminology.

 

To be honest, I was only talking about semantics because an affirmation was made on something that could have been verified. I really don't like political correctness, in most cases anyway and find it to be a hindrance and disaster among many other things. Oh and no need to worry about offending or insulting anyone, while I can't speak for others I can say that I was not offended.

Edited February 13, 2013 by The Oneiromancer

[Redthir 42]

Firstly, I have Asperger's Syndrome myself, and I identify most closely with Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash of the mane cast, much moreso than Fluttershy or Twilight Sparkle.

 

I don't really see any Asperger's Syndrome in Fluttershy. She actually seems to have a pretty good grasp of socialising, just that she's naturally shy. I'd say her shyness is related more to her natural temperament than anything else.

 

Twilight Sparkle having Asperger's Syndrome seems far more plausible to me. She always does seem a little computerised in her way of thinking (especially in The Crystal Empire regarding the test), and I'd say the vast majority of people with Asperger's think in this way to some degree (I certainly used to.) As well as this, Twilight Sparkle often seems to have her brain within her thoughts (namely Feeling Pinkie Keen, when she's not watching where she's going and falls into a trench.)

 

Pinkie Pie seems much more Asperger's to me than Fluttershy. Not all people with Asperger's Syndrome are introverted. Pinkie Pie is the type who uses her quirks (and a lot of those she has) to her advantage, to turn into an incredibly charismatic individual who everyone loves. It doesn't take long at all to realize that Pinkie Pie, despite being a genius acts like a total idiot (It was under e, anyone?). She seems to either be genuinely oblivious to normality, or pretends it doesn't exist.

[Ganondox 899]

I don't think that Fluttershy has any aspergers signs. One could even argue that the reason why she shies away from other ponies is because she is extremely empathetic and doesn't want to get too caught up in being emotional over other people unless she is more comfortable with them. Also anyone who has been bullied a lot as a child will naturally be more reluctant to being outgoing.

I'm going to point out right here, that, if I'm understanding what you are saying correctly, that is actually a symptom of Autism. See, words do not have fixed meaning, and empathy means many different things. When it is said people with autism lack empathy it means they have difficulty identify what people are feeling and their motivations, however, research has shown that another thing referred to as empathy, the ability to feel what another person may be feeling, might actually be heightened in autism. This is would make emotion situations very stressful as the person can feel the emotions, but doesn't know what they mean or how to make things better. That would mean they would try to only engage in emotional attachments with people they are comfortable with. 

 

 

Twilight has Aspergers...

I don't think so.

 

From my vast amounts of learning in the subject of psychology (a grand total of 1 semester of Abnormal Psych ... lol)

 

Twilight is much more likely to have OCPD (OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE PERSONALITY DISORDER).

 

First of all, there is no hint that her IQ is adversely affected by any developmental disorder (any form of Autism). Also her knowledge of magic is not nearly encyclopedic. She doesn't know every spell and her knowledge is not just limited magic.

 

Likewise OCD (obsesive compulsive disorder) is right out, because she doesn't have obsessions or compulsions. Ok I know what your thinking... She is obsessive about her work. Wrong, obsessions for OCD are like being convinced that someone is in your house and going to murder you in your sleep (every night) so you have a compulsion to go check your house 3 times for intruders while making sure that every door and window is locked (triple checking the locks each time), every night before going to sleep.

 

Having OCPD is much more likely because of her fixation on making lists and completing tasks. Likewise her mental breakdowns are associated with failing at these tasks which she feels that she must complete and they must be perfect.

1. If you have Aspergers you CANNOT have an adversely affected IQ, so that point is COMPLETELY irrelevant.

 

2. You know people with Aspergers aren't just walking encyclopedias, no one knows everything. 

 

3. The traits of OCPD match up closely with the B criteria of Autism. The main difference is that in Autism there needs to be a social deficit that is not caused by the obsession. She might have OCPD, or she might have AS, it's not really clear. 

 

As for the original topic, I say sure, they could both Aspergers. There is no proof that they have it, but you can make a case. If it makes you feel better to think of them as being autistic than go ahead. They are freaking cartoon ponies, it's not like we are slapping labels on real people.

 

I personally say it's extremely unlikely that more than one character is on the spectrum, but you can make cases for Twilight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie. IMO Twilight is the most likely while Pinkie is the least likely of the three. 

Edited March 31, 2013 by Ganondox

[Shanks 10,816]

When it is said people with autism lack empathy it means they have difficulty identify what people are feeling and their motivations, however, research has shown that another thing referred to as empathy, the ability to feel what another person may be feeling, might actually be heightened in autism.

That actually wouldn't surprise me as I know through personal experience that other senses are often heightened with Autism, I have since I was very young and still do though to a lesser extent have sensitivities to certain sounds, smells and other sensations. I remember during my early childhood years how I often had intense emotional breakdowns yet had difficultly explaining how I felt and why as I got older it became easier and easier to explain yet my emotions became far more intense. As I went into adulthood the intensity went way down as I became less depressed and angry but there are still some emotions that are difficult for me to explain. Since my early childhood I have also had a strong sense of justice though much of that had to do with my upbringing as helping the less fortunate was an idea that was ingrained in me since day one.

[Sonicrules831 520]

Well I do have Aspergers, after watching the episode "Lesson Zero" I thought her and I are quite alike. I always had a feeling of Twilight possibly having Aspergers. The way she acts, her socially awkward in the beginning. Makes me love her even more, Flutters too. Lol

[xremeidiot 32]

This observation is dead on to me. If I had to pick three of the Mane Six I'm most like, it'd be Twilight, Flutters, and as the song goes, I'm kind of a Rarity. This is relative because I'm an Aspie as well.