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Are there 8 Different Types of Aspergers?

I was recently directed to an interesting video on Youtube (embedded below this article). Basically it suggests that there are eight major types of Aspergers and that aspies are usually a mix of one, two or three of these.

Note: This is not accepted research - just a set of ideas that someone put forward to help those who were self-diagnosed.

The types are named after people. I'm not sure that I agree with the list or with the descriptions. I'm even less sure that these people are definitely aspies but it is still good food for thought. I've reproduced a lot of the content and added some of my own thoughts;

1. Spielberg (Based on Steven Spielberg)
A sociable, sporty, extroverted aspie with average IQ but poor spelling and grammar.

Of all the types, this is the one I disagree with the most - the traits aren't very aspie at all. In fact, I really can't see any commonality with this and other forms of Aspergers.



2. Einstein (Obviously based on Albert Einstein)
An Intellectual with a high IQ and excellent spelling/grammar. They're an expert in their special interest, often good with computers and usually quite argumentative - especially in areas of special interest.

I can relate quite well to this type. Probably too well in fact - though, unfortunately, I'm no "Einstein".



3. Powell (Possibly? based on Enoch Powell
An agressive/hostile/violent and intelligent aspie who is often bullied and may use drugs for stress. Possibly also having Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

I have met a few aspies who seem to be "fighters" or who see the world as "out to get them". I'm not sure where the drug bits came in but I can see how PTSD could have affected Enoch. I just don't see that it has much to do with Aspergers.



4. Numan (I think based on Gary Numan)
A spaced out daydreamer type who finds it difficult to understand others and is often misunderstood in return. Likely to have bonding issues and possibly bipolar.

I'm often spaced out... but not that spaced out.


5. Morrissey (Presumably the singer )
A unique, artistic and creative aspie who feels separated from people and is possibly schizophrenic. These people don't fit in well with society and often feel alien or like they belong in a different time period.

Yes, I can relate rather well to this though I'm not sure if I'm an alien or a time traveller. :-)


6. Nicholls (Presumably Aussie Craig Nicholls
A hyperactive, energetic and extroverted aspie who has no problems making friends - just problems keeping them. These aspies are often considered to be irritating, immature and childish. Unlike many aspies, they don't have much social fear and like to talk to people. They may also have Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD). In Nicholl's case, he claims to be a compulsive liar which goes against the general honesty normally associated with aspies.

Again, this description goes against a lot of well-documented aspie traits and personally, I'm not convinced that this is a type of Aspergers.


7. Carroll (It could only be Lewis Carroll)
A passive and very introverted aspie. Quiet, shy and deeply involved in their special interest. For these aspies, friends and relationships are secondary to their special interests. They're very passive, and show little emotion externally but are often very anxious inside. They're quite likely to be bullied.

I can relate a bit to this one too. Those special interests get you every time.


8. Warhol (From the description, this obviously Andy Warhol - not that there are any other famous Warhols anyway).
A confident and egocentric aspie who is full of ideas but feels that the world misunderstands them. While friendly in formal settings, the Warhol type can become revengeful and bitter when problems occur. They could also have Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) traits.

This looks to me to be simply a blending of several of the other types of aspie.

Finally, a credit, and an apology to Amy Nelson. The YouTube video, and probably the entire idea, is hers. I attempted to get permission to use these but was unable to contact her. Amy, if you're reading, I hope you don't mind.

The Video in Question

Comments

Anonymous said…
I've been reading your blog recently and I wanted to thank you for making it. I deeply love an Aspie friend of mine and I'm looking for answers. It's so difficult sometimes but he is worth the effort. I wish I knew if he felt any love for me, I've never asked and he's never told me. Keep writing and I'll keep reading. Could you write something on the Aspie view of age difference? When a friend or mate is older? Thanks.
Anonymous said…
Can't say that I agree with the video to be honest.....great music though!!!! ;oD
macskadék said…
Well, the Spielberg one puzzled me a lot, too, but... could it be "fitting in as a special interest" or the "overcompensating type"? Hmmm...

BTW, according to this, I'm a Morrissey with prominent Nicholls and more subtle Einstein traits...
Anonymous said…
I think this video was made in the US and I think the Powell type is refering to Colin Powell, the US Army General...and former secretary of State.

Also a vietnam vet, look up some Youtube videos of him...if my Aspiedar is right, he is a very high functioning aspie
Anonymous said…
From your descriptions, I'd be a Numan with a little bit of Carroll. I'm laughing--I've got a Louise Brooks haircut and just finished sewing a dress from a 1922 pattern. Oops.

I used to watch the show "Third Rock From the Sun" all the time (and loved it). My dad--also an Aspie--hated it because he didn't think it was funny. I suspect it hit a little too close to home.
Anonymous said…
While who ever came up with this is clever, I give them props for creativity, I trying to catagorize all people with AS into 8 different personality types is pretty short sighted.

I mean, isn't there as much personality variation among aspies as there are amont NT's? We are all people after all.
Anonymous said…
Testing
Unknown said…
Aspergers do not care about age, at all, at least, I don't ...
Someone... said…
I think I am Einstein, Numan, and Nicholls
Kelly said…
Just wanted to say that I do agree with 6-Nicholls as being a "type" of Aspergers. My son has Aspergers and he fits much of this description well. His therapist has said that it is a myth that all people with Asperger's have no interest in friends. Some of them, such as my son, are very social but very awkward and very aggressive in their friendliness which turns people off.
"Aspie" said…
I have to say that I'm a little offensive about being called an "apsie". I don't know what I used to do, but I just wanted people to leave me be so I can think to myself. Then I started making threats about punching them and that sure stopped them from coming around. Not necessarily a bad thing since I'm still not into guys and, as my mom thinks, my face keeps bringing them around. It's not that I'm not into friends, it's just that they probably wouldn't understand the way I think anyways. Now I've got a new tactic where I laugh so loud and long that people don't like being around me. Well, except for my friend; but he's got ADHD, so it's easy to understand why I keep him around.
Anonymous said…
whats this crap?you re taking every famous guy with aspergers and say its a different type?so in greece or germany for example we should

make other types based on the famous native aspies?and most are a mix of that?are there types or not?i ve heard there are types
(for example rule aspie)but certainly not as you categorize them
Anonymous said…
Im the Caroll Type.
Daniel B said…
The Nicholls type actually sounds very much like several friends i have who have aspergers. I wouldn't discount it.
Unknown said…
I'm a mixture of Carroll and Einstein- more so Carroll; I'm quite meticulous at spelling and grammar and quite defensive or confrontational when I am in disagreement with someone over one of my special interests (I have 2 interests), but I am extremely introverted, I tend express my emotions inwardly rather than externally, and most of my life is centered around my interests.
Anonymous said…
I'm all of them....but I don't have aspergers!
Raziel said…
I'm deff. a combination out of the Spielberg Type and the Morrissey Type.
Spielberg: I like talking to ppl, eventhough I was a very quiet child, I don't do much sport, but I loooove snowboarding, my IQ is above average, but I had dyslexia as a child. I know this is not the typical autistic clichée this type.

Morrissey: Well I'm not schizophrenic but I write poems, am a daydreamer. But I can get thoughts close to paranoia when I had a trauma and also psychotic like symptoms. But I'm not even schizotypal, but maybe some traits, would also fit with my Bipolar, but nothing enough to dx something else in addition. So just Bipolar and ASD.
Katie said…
This is really cool. It helps tonnes. My boyfriend has asperges and he openly talks about it with me all he time. But in my own time I like to research other things about him. It's amazing how this one condition has several other sub categories to it.
Anonymous said…
This seems like a good concept and should be expanded.
Some people think the Spielberg type isn't "real" but I disagree, I know plenty of "Spielberg" type aspies
Anonymous said…
I'm somewhere between the Einstein and Warhol type (With a bit of Numan)
My crush is definitely between Nicholls and Spielberg (I always said he was "Borderline NT", have a label now :P)
Jo said…
My Daughter is Einstein and Carroll.. Beautiful child.
Unknown said…
I'm a visual artist and photography student with Asperger's and I kind of see myself as Morrissey-Numan-Carroll hybrid for the most part, with a hint of Warhol in there for good measure.

Not much of a science geek but the necessity for quality grammar/articulation from the Einstein paragraph is very much me. I know of the sort who are a mix of the Spielberg and Nicholls inclination, but it's quite rare and peculiar in my life experiences.

The Enoch Powell one puzzled me ever so slightly, though it's interesting you mentioned it given I was reading about this not long ago...it more or less backs up what you meant: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-26440468
Anonymous said…
I hope you know that this is all nonsense - as an Asperger I'm continually amazed at the attempts to turn us into fantasy creatures.
Gavin Bollard said…
This is simply like someone sorting objects by size instead of by colour. It doesn't mean that it's the right categorisation but sometimes it's fun to look at anyway.
alexandr said…
this list helps me because i have all the symptoms of aspergers but no one will say i do because im " social" but i feel less confused after this!!!
Aiko said…
I am diagnosed as an aspie since i was in junior high school.. i am a kind of between 7 and 8 criterias.. and now i am having a deep trouble with relationship..
Hi.. your blog really rings my bell.. but if you dont mind.. may i translate it into indonesian but i will mention your blog as a source? sometimes my blog about health might be read by many indonesian.. (if you dont mind).. thank you..
Gavin Bollard said…
If you cite and link source, I don't mind having things translated.
Unknown said…
Wow, I'm quite bewildered that number 8 was on there considering how rarely that type of aspie is recognized as anything but void. I wouldn't say I'm quite what you'd consider narcissistic, but more so an individual with immense pride in said ideals in which sometimes causes me to do narcissistic things when sticking up for those ideals. An example of such actions would be my desire to live life upon my own strength, that said if someone were to ask me if I was alright or say "I'm there for you" after the death of a family member I'd probably spit in their face whilst screaming I'm not some weak bastard who needs people to live on, like you filthy extroverts. "Filthy extroverts" actually preludes into an in depth theory that which said in the type 8 depiction, would rather not be told for, not necessarily fear, how futile such an action would be. Many philosophers and intellectuals have spoken their theories on existence and humanity in the past and just look at where it's gotten us, nowhere, hence my theories are no exception to the futility in it all.
Unknown said…
Mebbe those who have aspergers thingy just need lovings and lots of circles
Hideo Kuze said…
I'd never heard about this angle for categorising Aspies -- or the term 'Aspie' at all for that matter -- before today, but truly, it's a very interesting read. Speaking for myself, I don't particularly identify with any of these; I would describe myself as somewhere between Turing and Hughes (as in, Howard). Not to be blowing my own trumpet or anything, just that the portrayals of these people in biographical films about them resonated with me very deeply. Thank you for this wonderful post!
Unknown said…
I have a first cousin that's Autistic. Additionally I believe I might have a combination of the Estien and Nicole's type of Aspergers syndrome. I am also very advanced and higher functioning. There might a connection with Estrogen Dominance syndrome and a history of gynecological conditions such as ovarian cyst, heavy bleeding risk, and severe PMS. I was also diagnosed with mild bipolar also known
Unknown said…
Additionally the mild bipolar depression is known as Cyclothimia. Also PTSD and social anxiety. Now the Aspergers in the connection with Estrogen Dominance is out of question. I might have Aspergers syndrome even I though I have never been diagnosed. I have also had vaginal yeast infections or bacterial vaginal infections, too. So I wonder does Aspergers women get gynecological or urinary tract health problems, if so its caused by Estrogen Dominance.
KurtmanJP said…
I'm pretty much a combo of the Einstein and Caroll types.
I don't necessarily agree with this assessment but here is another one I do agree with:https://blogs.psychcentral.com/not-robot/2016/09/the-five-types-of-aspergers/
I don't necessarily agree with this assessment but here is another one I do agree with:https://blogs.psychcentral.com/not-robot/2016/09/the-five-types-of-aspergers/
Nik Watt said…
I was diagnosed when I was FIFTY-THREE, which in "Any book" is 'LATE'?

It does help to explain - with Einstein - why I have excelled in the stores I have worked in.Originally, in a "Private" photographic & optical store - I could comprehend what would/would not sell and when I left there to become a Technician in F.E. I left without a blemish on my character. In Napier? I attempted suicide on three occasions, as I was bored out of my brains - I was supposed to be a Graphic Designer and all I did was deliver TV/VHS from room to room! After the first attempt, my Chie Technician's "Counselling" are as fresh now - as about 40 years' ago, "If ever you feel that bad again, don't do it on Napier property". I was returned to my Godforsaken office and it was STILL cover in blood: MY blood - I'd slashed my wrists. None of the Lecturing staff had any issues with the drawings I made - indeed, some went out of their way to get me to draw for them.

I left there to work for Currys. I still don't know why they fired me - specifically because I was their highest salesman. Not Edinburgh or 'just' Scotland or even the UK: I was their highest in EUROPE. My sales have never been bettered since.

Now? Now I spend all day either taking photographs (I have been published over 29,000 throughout the World - "Google" my name!) or taking the dog we got when another died. The one before I miss dailly/hourly - I haven't seen the other one today and I assume he is with the person that's apparently 'looking after me'. Good job, leaving me alone with my thoughts and memories - when I feel useless?

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