Is TV Character House an Aspie?
I really like the television series House. I have heard some suggest that he is an Aspie. I'm not so sure. What do you think? Any other House fans out there?
Well, it's a "character" first and foremost. Perhaps the question should be were the House writers knowingly basing the character on an aspie, a group of people that had aspie traits, or perhaps unknowingly recognized a "type" out there? How much of Hugh Laurie is in the character would also be a good question as he has admitted that he colors much of it with ad lib etc (I heard that is why he got the role in the first place). As a diagnostian, if the character that is HOUSE came to me for analysis, I can tell you after watching nearly every episode (crush alert lol) that YES, I would deem him as someone with Asperger's Syndrome. He wants to be close to people yet.... He doesn't seem to care but yet..... I am not sure he is good at real time social recognition; if he was, his reactions might be different. I think he has tunnel vision, again indicative of an aspie.
I considered it, but I think he's way too good at understanding people to be an actual Aspie. I think he could have Aspie traits. I'm actually watching House right now, it's one of my favorite shows.
He stims, obsesses, and is quirky. But again, his people skills seem too good to be an Aspie. He manipulates people and gets hidden meanings; neither of these are common in Aspies.
I've heard a much better case given for him just being flat out narcissistic. I think the Cuddy/Wilson discussion of him being autistic was specifically to prove the point that he wasn't.
I tend to think they were trying to enrich while staying true to the character of Sherlock Holmes, who admittedly has some very Aspie characteristics. But I don't know that House himself was inteded to be an Aspie.
As for Sherlock Holmes, he was based on a real person-- a professor Sir Arthur Conan Doyle knew that was wicked smart, had accute attention to detail, and poor personal skills. Do I think he was an Aspie? Yes. Yes, I do. So . . . in all probability House was based on a character who was based on a person who was an Aspie, but may not, himself, be intended to be an Aspie. I actually think some of the Aspie-ish traits have been lost in translation. But I still love House. :D
I agree that he has traits in common with AS, as do a lot of people. If the character has AS, he has learned to compensate to a very great extent. I noted about my very successful dad that over time he learned skills that helped him excel professionally, skills that make him appear more NT.
My dad (who told me several months ago that he has AS) reminds me in many ways of House. He is gruff, brilliant, manipulative. He cares too much to be a narcissist, and he isn't good enough at anticipating what people want and need from him -- in the moment. But upon reflection, he isn't half bad at it.
I love the show, especially Hugh Laurie and yeah while he does portray some traits in the character, honestly, he is more of a narcissist I find.
I am a massive House fan.
However I definately do not think House has Asperger's (or any other Autism Spectrum Disorder). House's 'difficulties' in engaging with others began after he became bitter following people forcing medical treatment on him, leaving him with permanent pain in his leg, instead o letting him die.
Since that time House made specific effort to ignore societies social rules and adhere to the norm. Apparently his way of actively rebelling against what society wants of him because they forced him to live in pain.
House's social blunders are more than often NOT mistakes because he doesn't understand. More so, he actually does understand and sees it as his role (and his right) to manipulate people and offend. Half the time he does things outside the social norm he is stiring someone up for a reaction (not a consistently Aspie trait).
House actually notices much much more about people than you would expect if he had Asperger's. If anything, he is so insightful into social cues etc that he uses that to his advantage in making those around him uncomfortable.
He certainly meets the criteria for narcissitic PD, and perhap at times even antisocial PD (although the onset of these behaviours was too late in life). He shows no respect for the rules. Demands that he be treated differently to others. He is very entitled and seldom considers that others' feelings are as important as his own priorities.
In real life, no-one would ever get away behaving like House does in the medical world. He would be out of a job without a second thought regardless of how good his diagnostic skills are. I guess part of what makes the show fun to watch for some medicos is that House gets cool cases (not that common), has an entire team and hospital full of resources at his disposal, and he get's away with doing radical things that most would never dare try or ask to try... He does the stuff we're not allowed to do (for very good reasons most of the time).
House is EXTREMELY neurotypical in my mind. His ability to manipulate, read into what is happening around him, deliberately break the rules, deliberately provoke people for an EMOTIONAL reaction, choose to ignore how others feel, is all evidence for his neurotypicality.
I think Cuddy and Wilson discussed the posibility of an ASD diagnosis for their own benefit. Because if House had an ASD then they could tell themselves he wasn't meaning to be so hurtful when he ignores their needs and feelings, but rather he simply didn't understand. Thus making his hurtful and unacceptable behaviors more acceptable to them. I think it was important they talked about it, because it gives a very good indication that they really do find his behaviours unacceptable and provocative and a searching for an explanation that doesn't simply label their 'friend'/colleague as arrogant and obnoxious (which is exactly what House is...)
I would hate to work with House, but I love watching the show...
It has been mentioned on the show before, and both Wilson and Cuddy have said that while he has some Aspie-ish traits that they don't think he is on spectrum himself. In fact, they have suggested that maybe it would be better if he was, not only for them but for him and his own personal angst.
Add in that he IS really good at real time social recognition etc, it's just he decides that his needs override politeness.
Savannah Nicole Logsdon-Breakstone Director of Advocacy