Neurodiversity as a paradigm and as a counterculture

Abstract

The ideas of neurodiversity are more and more popular today and could be considered at different levels of analysis. At first, neurodiversity is the original idea that the characteristics of an individual`s brain structure affect the features of his way of thinking and behavior.

Secondly, it is the neurodiversity paradigm. Its proponents believe that many psychiatric diagnoses are socially constructed. The neurodifferent brain is considered not as a pathology, but as a feature that causes problems only because of the cruelty and inappropriateness of the world of neurotypical. The paradigm is especially widely used by individuals with ASD. Researchers note logical contradictions in the paradigm. It is a socio-cultural construct which is demanded by modern society and mass culture. Different movements against oppression are spreading to ever wider contexts. The media image of individuals with ASD is associated with the demand for traits of individualism, specificity, distinction and non-systemic in modern society. Consequently, the media create a romanticized image of the autistic, which leads to the popularity of the paradigm of neurodiversity.

Finally, active supporters of the neurodiversity paradigm are representatives of a specific culture that has a special language, symbols, identity, values, communicative preferences, etc. Analyzing features and manifestations of this community, author comes to the conclusion that the culture of neurodiversity is opposed to the dominant one. There is a paradox: the paradigm of neurodiversity is in line with trends of modernity, while the neurodiversity culture acts as a counterculture.

Keywords: autism, neurodiversity, neurotypicality, autistic culture, antipsychiatry, counterculture, individualization, identity, ableism, postmodernism

* The research was supported by the Russian Foundation of Basic Research (RFBR), the scientific project no. 18-013-00925 

DOI 10.25205/2658-4506-2020-13-1-92-104