Elon musk has autism
Does Elon Musk Have Autism Or Asperger's?
Is Elon Musk Autistic?
Although Elon Musk has never explicitly said that he's autistic, he has admitted to having Asperger's, a diagnosis that isn't officially listed as a disorder.
Instead, Asperger's was replaced by autism spectrum disorder in the DSM series.
Musk admitted to having Asperger's while starring as a guest on the famed weekend comedy series Saturday Night Live, or SNL.
Does Elon Musk Have Asperger’s?
Elon Musk had a very brief career in comedy. During that time, there was debate over if it was okay for him to claim that he had Asperger's syndrome.
Some new articles defended him, claiming that he was diagnosed and that it was okay to keep using the term of his original diagnosis.
Some people accused him of being polarizing, dividing himself from other people that have autism through some sort of social class instead of a different point in the spectrum.
Within a panel of different people diagnosed with autism, a famed writer claimed that people who claimed to have Asperger's attempt to divide themselves from people that have autism, or an elitist way of saying that they're autistic.
The accusation was that Elon doesn't understand the history of the term Asperger's and that he uses it to partition himself as an individual capable of higher functionality than others.
Elon Musk's declaration of having Asperger's could assist in the reduction of stigmatization of people with autism.
It could also help show that autistic people can become productive members of society, even though they may possess neurotypical traits.
For some people with autism, Musk provided them with a new feeling that having the disorder wasn't something that blocked their ability to prosper.
It could also help show that the autistic are ordinary people like everyone else, capable of making their contributions to the world.
Must have been defended as providing self-esteem to the autistic, giving them a sense of empowerment that's rarely done in the public eye.
Some young people feel that Elon Musk's professing to have autism encouraged other people with the disorder making them feel as if they too could succeed to a level that's currently seen by the famed businessman. Musk is considered to be the richest man in the world.
Still, some detractors find Musk to be basking in the middle of yet another publicity stunt, using behavioral disorders for his gain.
Based on an article published recently, an autistic journalist claimed that Musk was making a lacking effort to use his image to create the persona of a billionaire that doesn't care about anyone but himself. Some feel that Musk isn't giving a proper representation of the way autistic individuals behave.
Many with the disorder have problems finding suitable employment or holding down a job. Even more, they have difficulties financially and reside in unpredictable living arrangements.
Autism Is More Common Than You Might Think
Now that we know Elon Musk has autism, you should know that autism is surprisingly common in the U.S. and across the world. In fact, 1 in every 100 children in the world has autism. Also, around 1 in 44 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder in the U.S. according to the CDC.
How does Elon Musk announcing he has Asperger’s syndrome impact the autistic community?
Elon Musk undoubtedly has some impact on the autistic community, whether it's intentional or not.
Much of it centers around the debate over his unofficial diagnosis, and how the term Asperger's is no longer a sufficient way of describing people with autism.
What Do Autistic People Say About Musk’s Announcement?
There are mixed reactions over Elon Musk's claim of having Asperger's.
Most are neutral, not knowing enough about Musk to make a fact-based determination on whether Musk is genuine. Others could defend or strongly rebuke him.
Who Is Elon Musk?
Elon Musk was born in South Africa in 1971. Many people that know him from his childhood claim that he was picked on during his primary education.
Regardless, his issues during childhood didn't prevent him from being successful. He's the founder of several companies such as SpaceX, and The Boring Company, and the leader of Tesla. He's known for his interest in Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency that's based on meme culture.
References
- https://www.abacenters.com/elon-musk-autism/
- https://psychcentral.com/autism/elon-musk-opened-up-about-autism-heres-what-we-learned
- https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61234231
how being autistic may make him think differently
The business magnate and new owner of Twitter Elon Musk revealed a while ago that he is autistic.
Musk, the wealthiest person in the world, is autistic. Musk, a fellow of the prestigious Royal Society and Time’s 2021 Person of the Year, is autistic. One of the most famous people on Earth is autistic. Perhaps it is worth letting that sink in?
You can listen to more articles from The Conversation, narrated by Noa, here.
As autism researchers, we think it is important to raise awareness of and improve attitudes towards autism. There is now a growing appreciation of “neurodiversity” in society, especially in the science and technology sector. There has also been discussion of how people, such as environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg, can be great activists due to their autistic traits (although there is no statistical link between autism and environmentalism).
It is surprising, then, that there has been so little discussion of Musk’s autism. Not only would this be useful for understanding Musk, who is now an influential but increasingly criticised figure, but it might also go a long way to highlighting autism-related strengths and difficulties.
It is important to remember that he is neither representative of the autistic population nor the general one. But, if we believe that individual experiences matter, Musk’s story is a chance to learn about him, autism and neurodiversity. Given his defining position in society, it is worth trying to understand Musk rather than leaving public discourse to sour further.
Bullying
Musk has shared stories of his social struggles as a child. He reports being bullied and “almost beaten to death” for being different. In a documentary, Musk’s mother talks about him as a “young genius”, but also a shy and awkward child without friends. Together, Musk has what psychologists call a “developmental history” of autistic characteristics and adverse experiences of not being accepted in childhood.
Abuse directed at Musk for being autistic has continued into adulthood, with a Twitter executive referring to him as “literally special needs” and “a looney tune”.
Only a few people called this out. This is sadly reflective of the bullying that autistic people face in the workplace and more generally.
Such hostility is thought to partly explain why autistic people face the highest rates of unemployment of all disabled groups. Musk is in a much more powerful position to defend himself than most others. But it is possible that the bullying he’s experienced throughout his life speaks to why he can be defensive and combative on Twitter.
It is also worth remembering that, although Musk appears emotionally robust, there is often more going on beneath the surface for autistic and neurodivergent people. Our research shows that autistic people use psychologically exhausting coping strategies, such as “masking” or hiding their authentic self, which can worsen mental health. This is why autism is considered an “invisible disability”.
Literal thinking
Autism is also sometimes linked to a literal way of thinking. This was epitomised by Musk physically carrying a bathroom sink into Twitter HQ, which he has recently taken ownership of, as a play on the common phrase “let that sink in”.
It was, of course, a publicity stunt, but he might also have been making a comical point from the fact that many idioms don’t literally make sense. The non-literal use of words like this doesn’t necessarily come naturally to autistic people.
While some people understand and appreciate this unconventional style of humour, many are likely to think it is strange or inappropriate. This has probably contributed to the polarised opinions about Musk, which might partly reflect differences in humour between autistic and non-autistic people, as revealed by research.
Appearing on the US hit show Saturday Night Live, Musk himself commented on how his autistic communication style can be unusual and humorous: “I don’t always have a lot of intonation or variation in how I speak … which I’m told makes for great comedy.”
An unusual way of speaking has indeed been linked to autism in research. For example, autistic people may have different acoustic features of their speech, such as pitch, which can make them appear blunt or rude.
That is how Musk might be coming across in public situations, following his acquisition of social media giant Twitter.
Musk’s achievements are also likely to reflect autistic strengths in science and tech that are worth celebrating. In an interview last year, he talked about how he “found it rewarding to spend all night programming computers … just by myself”.
This dedication to specific interests, instead of socially conventional activities such as playing with friends as children, might explain why some autistic people have extraordinary talents and can sometimes outperform non-autistic people on certain tasks. Research on this is sparse but growing.
One of the world’s most famous people being autistic will invariably raise awareness of autism. This is what researchers, charities and the autism community have been trying to do for decades. If remembering that Musk is autistic can advance this endeavour, it may be worthwhile.
Elon Musk admitted to having Asperger's syndrome
- Billionaires
- Timur Batyrov Editorial Forbes
Billionaire Elon Musk admitted that he has Asperger's Syndrome. This is an autism spectrum disorder whose carriers have difficulties with communication and socialization, but they often have increased cognitive and verbal abilities
Billionaire Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has admitted that he has Asperger's Syndrome. He stated this on the air of the TV show Saturday Night Live on NBC, which he hosted.
“I'm honored to host Saturday Night Live. <...> My performance today is historic because I am the first SNL host with Asperger's.
Or at least the first one to admit it,” Musk said.
“Elon’s tweet does not match reality”: Tesla doubts the ability to release a drone by the end of the year
In fact, the head of Tesla is not the first show host to be diagnosed with this. In 2003, a former TV show participant, actor and comedian Dan Aykroyd, who repeatedly spoke about having Asperger's syndrome, became the host of one of the editions of Saturday Night Live, the Daily Beast notes.
Asperger's syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder. Its owners have difficulties with communication and socialization, but they often have increased cognitive and verbal abilities. Billionaire PayPal founder Peter Thiel noted that many successful entrepreneurs have a "mild form" of this syndrome, or traits of it.
According to him, they allow you to create real innovations in a conformist environment, not paying attention to social conventions.
“Look, I know I sometimes say and write weird things, that's how my brain works. To everyone I offended, I want to say the following. I reinvented electric cars and send people to Mars, you thought I would be a calm and normal dude?” Musk said in his welcoming speech.
Elon Musk became the highest paid CEO in the US
Musk was announced to host an episode of Saturday Night Live in April. Critics noted that this was a "strange choice" for a comedy TV show, and the presenter should have "at least some talents other than wealth."
The CEO of Tesla is not the first businessman to have been approached to host Saturday Night Live.
In November 2015, Donald Trump became the host of one of the episodes. Then the show was hit with a wave of criticism from Trump's opponents, pointing to the "belligerent and racist rhetoric" of his presidential campaign.
Visionary Thoughts: All Elon Musk's Inventions
7 photos
Elon Musk announced that he has Asperger's syndrome
49-year-old founder of Tesla and SpaceX, American entrepreneur Elon Musk once admitted that he had Asperger's syndrome. And he lives with it for many years.
Getty Images
Elon Musk told how doctors diagnosed him with Asperger's Syndrome on the NBC show.
Contents of the article
Do not self-medicate! In our articles, we collect the latest scientific data and the opinions of authoritative health experts. But remember: only a doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment.
What is Asperger's Syndrome
Asperger's Syndrome is a form of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) characterized by difficulties in social interaction and limited, repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.
The first symptoms of the syndrome in 1944 was described by the Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger - using the example of children from his medical practice. These children found it difficult to integrate into society, they showed reduced empathy for peers, had difficulties with verbal (that is, verbal) speech, while their cognitive abilities were generally not affected. Asperger gave this disorder the name "autistic psychopathy".
Asperger's syndrome is often said to be essentially the same as high functioning autism. In the latest, 5th edition of the American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Asperger's syndrome is completely absent, it has been replaced by autism spectrum disorder. Nevertheless, the term continues to be actively used by both representatives of the professional community and parents of children with ASD.
People with Asperger's are not necessarily withdrawn. They can talk quite extensively on their favorite topic, however, at the same time they hardly pay attention to the listener's reaction.
They are distinguished by categorical judgments and the ability to concentrate to the utmost on a particular interest.
ADVERTISING - CONTINUED BELOW
My speech is historic
Elon Musk made his confession of the diagnosis made by doctors on the air of the Saturday Night Live show on the American NBC channel: “My speech today is truly historic, because I am the first person with Asperger's syndrome who host of SNL. Or, at least, the first one who admitted it, ”said the billionaire at the very beginning of his speech.
In support of his words, Elon reminded the audience about the unusual name he gave to his son ("X Æ A-12 Musk"), as well as about the ambiguous comments and statements that he posted on social networks. For example, when the coronavirus epidemic led to the closure of the Tesla plant in San Francisco, he began to publicly protest against the lockdown, calling the panic over covid “stupidity” and the advice not to leave the house “forced imprisonment.
” Also last summer, he admitted that he plans to get rid of everything he has, because the property weighs him down.
During the same broadcast, Elon apologized to all his subscribers and viewers, whom he could offend with his statements: “But my brain just works like that. I have reinvented electric cars and I am sending people to Mars in a spaceship. Did you think I would be a calm and normal guy?”
Musk again changed the world for the better
Elon Musk called his speech historic, and it seems that it is really important to start talking openly about your features. Confessions of public people help to remove the stigma from diagnoses that are usually shamed and hidden in society. Here is how Gestalt therapist Andrey Yudin comments on Musk’s act: “Personally, this confession did not cause me any surprise: among public figures, including Russian, there are a huge number of autistic people, most of whom either do not know about their autism or hide it , not wanting their personality and opinion to be devalued in connection with their diagnosis.
And I'm already used to this situation.
Musk's act causes me great purely professional joy, because with a wave of his hand he changed the world for the better:
It will now be much easier and safer for people with Asperger's syndrome to publicly talk about their diagnosis, because now they will be associated in the public mind not only with the well-known Anthony Hopkins, but also with one of the most successful and extraordinary entrepreneurs in the history of mankind.
Radical activists calling for the eradication of autistic people from the human population through eugenics will now find it much more difficult to spread slogans such as "I dream of a world without autism", "We must find a way to eradicate this terrible autism", etc. These statements and used to sound terrible to those in the know, but now they will sound just idiotic: wow, what funny guys: they dream of a world not only without Anthony Hopkins and his ingenious image of Hannibal Lecter (such a world is simply terrible to imagine! ), so now even without electric cars, flights to Mars and a huge number of other achievements of scientific and technological progress, which the world owes precisely to autistic people.
Well, no, thank you, please keep eugenics to yourself.
Finally, incompetent psychiatrists and ADOS diagnosticians can no longer, with impunity, condescendingly and with a smart look, broadcast outdated nonsense from the series: “Darling, what makes you think that you have Asperger's? You look in the eyes, your intellect is not disturbed, go home. Now they will be argued and harshly objected: “In your opinion, Elon Musk is not able to make eye contact or is he experiencing intellectual difficulties?”
In general, I think that Elon Musk has remained true to himself here - he again changed humanity for the better in one fell swoop and made our planet a safer and more accepting place for autistic people. How great it is that in our world there are such courageous and unconventional thinking people.”
Is this true or a joke?
The British edition of The Guardian doubts that Elon Musk's confession is true.
However, "evidence of the diagnosis" is available if desired. For example, a billionaire has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to delve into a topic or problem, ignoring everything else.
Musk is a real workaholic, he admits that he works 120 hours a week. He is obsessed with sending a man to Mars, as well as revolutionizing the automotive industry and turning the solar energy industry around. He does not hold back his ambitions and is not afraid to set very ambitious goals, for example, the departure of mankind from dependence on fossil fuels.
Risk and wealth
Elon Musk was recognized as the richest person on Earth, his total fortune exceeded 185 billion dollars. He surpassed Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who had topped the list of the richest people on Earth for 4 years. But once upon a time, Musk had so many debts that he had to borrow money from friends, if only in order to have something to live on.
