Asperger’s Advantage: Disorder in some cases may be benefit in others

Do we need to think about mental disorders differently? In a MyAJC.com, a University of Georgia professor talks about what he calls his "Asperger's Advantage."

Explaining that he has Asperger’s, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive thinking, UGA education professor Peter Smagorinksy says, “In academia, this triad of conditions gives me the advantage that I claim. Researchers who can see patterns and go into meticulous detail without losing focus — traits of Asperger’s — tend to have successful careers in publish-or-perish environments. Those who are anxious are often incapable of leaving matters unfinished or hanging, leading to a disposition to finish tasks promptly and dependably. And obsessive-compulsiveness allows one to stick with a topic, sometimes when others would be more preferable, until a task is done.”

He continues, “In this sense, whether or not my conditions represent a disorder is entirely a matter of context. Disorder is relational and situational, not absolute and irrevocable, as terminology and everyday assumption suggest. The same makeup might be ideal, or disorder, depending on the environment.”