I’d like to introduce a Netflix show about psychology, love and psychiatric disease. But, not a simple disease, no, a very disabling handicap, that is call high level autism or Asperger syndrome. This show, called Atypical, deals with Sam’s life, an 18 years old teenager with autism that decide find the true love.
To structure my development, I’ll use two parts, on the first hand I’ll explain the pitch and the structure of the show, and, on the second hand, I’ll develop more psychological aspects about the show and autism.
First part: pitch of the show
In this show, we follow, how Sam try to seduce and find the perfect girl for his life while dealing with his handicap. To help him, he has the support of his family (Casey his sister, Elsa his mother, and Doug his father) and his psychologist, Julia.
Sam must discover the social laws about love in relationships, seduction et his sexuality. He must create et develop his own tools in order to seduce girls and be happy with his love relationships.
The show develops about Sam’s scholarship, family’s dynamic and behavior’s changes in Sam’s life
Second part: understand autism through the show
Autism spectrum disorder is compound of multiple symptoms link to social interaction, social introversion, communication abilities and perception. This bunch of symptoms is linked with cognitive problems especially with social cognition and communication abilities.
This part is about to deal with these cognitive aspects through a non exhaustive list of common symptoms that interfere with interpersonal relationships and more particularly, love relationships.
The atypical answers about social interactions with other people is the first symptom, it be described as a lack of knowledges and good brain functioning about theory of mind (that is the ability to understand other’s actions, emotions and willing). People with autistic disorders are generally in great difficulties to decode non verbal, and implicit, this has a negative impact on seducing behaviors.
Adding to this, we can argue that people with ASD have a tendency to isolate themselves about strong stimulations, like sounds or flashlights, this can beget crises that might not been seen as a good social behavior, associate with a strong impulsivity, it makes seducing behaviors more complicated, especially in parties, bars rendezvous, and dating in a public place.
Finally, one of the most complicated symptom exposed in the show is the stereotyped behaviors, especially difficulties with changes and unforeseen changes in their environment. This symptom could be observed equally as a reduction of interest and hobbies, for instance, Sam’s only like the floe and what is living on (more specially penguins).
Thus, starting an important and complex relationship as a romance could complicated for people with autism.
However, as it have been shown in Atypical, with a good psychological and social support, training, and motivation people with ASD could try to find the true love, especially in the teenage period where every people are trying to find themselves and experiment love and happiness across relationships. This show, designed as a comic show, transmit as happy and hopeful message of determination and a new, interesting, look about Asperger syndrome.
Vocabulary:
A tool : un outil, une technique
A lack : un manque
Unforseen : imprévu
The floe : la banquise
Hopeful : plein d’espoir