Adolf Hitler and Asperger syndrom

[Anton Rakoczi]

I have read recent accounts that Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin exibited
symptoms of Asperger syndrome.is this true?

[Robert A. Jensen]

Anton Rakoczi wrote:
>
> I have read recent accounts that Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin exibited
> symptoms of Asperger syndrome.is this true?

Yes it is true. Nearly all serial killers have also been described as
having 'autistic' traits. Does it mean anything, no. The problem with
the introduction of the 'Asperger' label is that you can see traits that
are described as 'autism' in nearly everyone. This trend started with
genetic theorists who look at Asperger syndrome, PDD and autism, not as
a developmental disorder but as an interseting genetically transmitted
personality trait. The criteria for making a diagnosis of 'autism' and
related conditions has been expanded to such a degree that the label may
be becoming irrelevant. Fred Volkmar performed several field trials of
developmentally delayed young children and reported that autism is being
diagnosed twice as frequently using DSM-III-R (1987) criteria than is
being diagnosed using DSM-III (1980) diagnostic criteria. There is no
medical test for 'autism', it is all based on interpretations of current
trends in pyschological theory. Even though parents are rarely autistic
themselves, the genetic theorists have attempted to describe the
majority of parents and siblings as having the same condition, although
not meeting any diagnostic criteria for the condition. This to me is no
different than the garbage promulgated by the Eugenics movement in the
US and the UK in the 1930's which basically assumed that mentally
deficient people are the product of genetically defective parents and
the government should do whatever is possible to remove these families
from the genetic pool.
Regards,
Bob Jensen