How well does Hollywood portray autism?

Many mainstream films feature neurodivergent characters in both supporting and leading roles. While the way these conditions are portrayed on screen is sometimes accurate, or at least relatively in line with our current understanding, many take liberties with the stereotypes and exaggerate them for cinematic effect. These conditions often produce behaviors that are difficult to define, so it is understandable that not all nuances are accurately captured.

However, if you asked someone what it means to be autistic based solely on movie characters, they might tell you that they are someone with superhuman intelligence, have a personal bully, and don’t know what empathy is. Here’s what it really means to be autistic.

The word autism was coined by psychiatrist Paul Eugen Bleuler around 1911. The condition has since been referred to as autism, autism spectrum disorder, or autistic spectrum condition. In the autism community, it is not always considered a disorder, as much as it is part of normal human neurodiversity. It mostly describes people with a neurodevelopmental condition that delays or otherwise affects their ability to understand interactions and pick up social cues.

In recent years, autism has been used as an umbrella term for several behaviors that show delays in intellectual development and social behavior, and symptoms can be shared with other diagnoses such as ADHD. The cause of autism is thought to be mostly genetic, with some ability to treat behaviors with therapy. There is no known “cure”, with many insisting that there is nothing that can be cured in the first place.

There are some common features of autistic behavior. Some children have good speech ability, while others have delayed speech, and some are nonverbal. Some children rarely make eye contact, appear indifferent to others, have a strong adherence to routine, play with toys in unconventional ways, use repetitive phrases (echoling), etc. Some individuals have only a few characteristics in common.

The cumulative exhibited behaviors and their severity can be used to diagnose where an individual may fall on the autism spectrum. A higher percentage of people on this spectrum suffer from geek syndrome than do neurotypical people, which is described as having not only exceptional cognitive skills, but also significant social or intellectual disability.

Hollywood doesn’t always portray these descriptions well.

In 1988 AD Rain ManDustin Hoffman plays Raymond Babbitt, an autistic scientist who has an extraordinary memory, a talent for mathematics, and can count exceptionally quickly. He has also shown to lack empathy and understanding social cues. The character was partly based on real-life “megasavant” Kim Peek. Beck was reportedly able to read books in an hour and memorize what he read. It can also be given a date to quickly know which day of the week it occurred. What is problematic is that although savant syndrome occurs at much higher rates in people with autism, it is still very rare, and is hardly an accurate description or defining characteristic of people with autism.

The only emotional expression Babbitt shows is during bouts of distress, perpetuating the misleading trope that autistic people’s emotions are only at extremes. Despite these misconceptions, the film has greatly increased awareness of autism and the need for funding for research, diagnosis, and treatment.

In singer Sia’s directorial debut, Maddie Ziegler plays a young, non-verbal autistic woman named Music, in the 2021 film…uh, music. Despite seemingly good intentions, critical reaction to this film has not been kind, receiving a miserable 7% rating on the review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes. “Cringey”, “offensive” and “over the top” were some of the words used to describe the film. Most of the criticism stems from a nervous actress portraying the character with exaggerated mannerisms that could be interpreted more as cartoonish mockery than sincere realism.

There doesn’t really seem to be a story or arc musicThe only view she sees of it is through the musical sequences in her head. The character is one-dimensional, and it’s very clear what is supposed to define them. The film shows the use of physical restraints as a means of dealing with meltdowns and tantrums, which is dangerous if viewers consider it an appropriate response. music It also contains loud sounds, colors, and bright lights that may be difficult for people with sensory sensitivities to process. It really makes you wonder who the target audience for this film is. Autism advocates push for an understanding that the condition makes people different, not strange.

a year ago, Night clerk It stars Tye Sheridan as Bart Bromley, an autistic young man who works at a hotel and secretly installs hidden cameras in guests’ rooms, in an attempt to view and better understand their social interactions, with the goal of appearing more neurotypical. The character is described as a voyeur, perpetuating the stereotype of autistic people as scary and dangerous. One night, Bromley witnesses the murder of a woman, and because he rushes into the room to intervene, he becomes the prime suspect when the police arrive. When the detective was asked if he thought Bromley committed the murder, he replied: “These kids on the spectrum, you know, can be very violent, too.”

Not only is this the case, but: “In fact, studies of court records indicate that people with autism are less likely to engage in criminal behavior of any kind compared to the general population. More dialogue from the detective taunts Bromley, insinuating that he needs his mother to take care of him and make things right for him before he “explodes.” This type of treatment of autistic children is condescending, presenting them as if they are not capable adults.

A villainous character bullying an autistic character isn’t necessarily the problem here, as hard as it may be to watch, because it creates interest and drama. The problem is that the story never reaches a satisfactory conclusion. There is no redemption, no retribution, and no sincere message to the audience.

Then there’s 2018 predator. You’ll need your shoes on to watch this. Once again, the film features an autistic boy named Rory who has superhuman abilities and social awkwardness, being bullied by other kids at school. Rory has an impeccable memory, can decipher Predator language, and understands how to use their technology. It is considered so special that aliens from another planet see it as an advance in human genetics, and want to take it for the purposes of hybridization with their own species.

So lock up your kids, people. Autism now represents the next step in human evolution, which is clearly highly desirable among aliens. Of course this is a sci-fi movie, but oh my god.

The mere presence of autistic characters in the media can be a positive thing for society, as it raises awareness of the condition and the challenges autism creates in many people’s lives. Unfortunately, if the images are inaccurate, such inclusion can lead to further misunderstandings.

For a better depiction of autism, you can check this out The reason I jumped, Grandin TempleAnd the reality series on Netflix Love is on the spectrum. Autism is a difficult topic to understand, even if you or a loved one have personal experience with it. Perhaps the best way to approach the topic and community is to realize that if you’ve met someone with autism, you’ve met someone with autism. Maybe Hollywood will learn to do the same.

AIPT Science is offered jointly by AIPT and New York City Skeptics.