As with so many senseless acts of violence— including the shootings in Aurora, CO, last summer and Tucson, AZ, the year before that—some media outlets haven’t been able to resist the temptation to speculate about the mental health of the young man who killed 27 people in Newtown, CT, on December 14.
This time, however, most of the conjecture has focused on reports that 20-year-old Adam Lanza had a form of autism, a developmental disorder that impairs social and communications skills. There are several reasons to be wary of this coverage, not least of which is the fact that the information is so far unconfirmed.
The New York Times reported on the day of the shooting that, “Several [of Lanza’s former high school classmates] said in separate interviews that it was their understanding that he had a developmental disorder. They said they had been told that the disorder was Asperger’s syndrome, which is considered a high functioning form of autism.” Around the same time, Fox News, The Atlantic, and other outlets said that ABC News had reported Lanza’s brother, Ryan, told authorities that Lanza was autistic or had “Asperger Syndrome and ‘a personality disorder.’”
The ABC News report to which those sites linked contains no such information.
So, it’s unclear whether Lanza had autism at all—and let’s not forget the many erroneous reports that have already come out of this tragedy, from the media pegging Ryan Lanza as the gunman and broadcasting his Facebook photos on national television, to later-debunked assertions that Lanza’s mother worked and was killed at the elementary school where the murders took place.
Lack of solid confirmation that Lanza had autism (from his physician, for instance) hasn’t stopped some news outlets from offering misleading speculation that the disorder can foster violent behavior. The worst offender may have been The Telegraph in the UK. After echoing the unverified report about autism, the paper launched into irresponsible postulation about “sociopathy,” “criminal behavior,” and attempts “to escape feeling empty or emotionally void,” before dropping this disingenuously balanced gem:
Those on the autistic spectrum have a more limited emotional range and can miss social cues, making it more difficult for them to communicate and feel empathy with others. Difficulties communicating can cause frustration, which can spill over into aggression.
Several studies have found that violence and criminal behaviour are no more common in those diagnosed with autism than they are in the general population.
It was such horrid reporting that led the Autism Research Institute, a nonprofit research and support network, to issue this statement on Saturday:
The autism community has long labored toward building understanding, awareness, and trust within communities throughout the United States and the world. As adults with autism living productive, peaceful lives, we urge the media and professionals who participate in speculative interviews about the motives of the accused shooter to refrain from misleading comments about autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities. The eyes of the world are on this wrenching tragedy - with 1 in 88 now diagnosed, misinformation could easily trigger increased prejudice and misunderstanding. Let us all come together and mourn for the families and exercise the utmost care in discussions of how and why it occurred.
A few reporters have also tried to stem the tide of misconception about autism. In a blog post reprinted by Slate, Emily Willingham, a journalist who focuses on biology and whose son is autistic, explained that “empathetic ability comes in two forms”—cognitive empathy, where a person recognizes the emotions of another, and emotional empathy, where a person feels the emotions of another. According to research cited by Willingham, those with autism tend to struggle with the first, but not the second. Psychopaths, on the other hand, tend to struggle with the second, but not the first.
A Los Angeles Times article headlined, “Speculation over autism, but shooter’s ‘why’ has no easy answer,” stressed in its opening paragraphs that while shyness and awkwardness are often traits of autism, “a propensity for premeditated violence is not.” Reporter Alan Zarembo interviewed several experts who “said that at most, autism would have played a tangential role in the mass shooting — if Lanza had it at all.”
I have a brother with Asberger's syndrome. I am writing this anonymously because I now fear for him, because such misinformation might make others fear him.
Asberger's syndrome varies from individual to individual. Asberger's causes a lack of a social connection. For example, without being taught to do so, someone with Asberger's won't look at someone when speaking to them.
My brother has a sense of right and wrong, and a conscience. While he might appear to not have empathy in some situations, it's only because he doesn't understand how to read some social cues, it's not because he doesn't care about other people. He does care.
My brother is not stupid. He has an above-average IQ. He would never mistreat people, in fact, he is distressed when he realizes other people are mistreated.
#1 Posted by Anonymous, CJR on Mon 17 Dec 2012 at 02:32 PM
@Anonymous -- I sympathize with you, your family. My ex-husband is now the step-father of 3 precious little boys, all of which have Asberger's. They too are brilliant, obviously soft hearted to those who know how to read them. The love that they have for my children is obvious, and reciprocated. I hope that your brother is sheltered, not exposed to those who may be afraid as part of the after-math of this nightmare.
#2 Posted by Louisiana Mom, CJR on Mon 17 Dec 2012 at 05:26 PM
There was a school shooting Nov 30, 2012 in Casper Wyoming. College student from out-east returned to kill step-mother-to-be and father, both instructors at local community college. Student was reported to be angered because of having/being diagnosed with asperger's syndrome. Student was in 20's.
#3 Posted by lisa , CJR on Tue 18 Dec 2012 at 10:01 AM
Shame on the Columbnia Journalism Review for such shoddy claims. Nobody is saying that Asperger's or Autism leads to violence. It is the medications prescribed for those conditions that are the problem. There is a long and well-documented link between SSRI medications and random acts of otherwise inexplicable violence. The web site ssristories.com lists 66 incidents of violence at schools in which the perpetrators were taking or withdrawing from prescription anti-depressants at the time. One of the Columbine killers, Eric Harris, was on Zoloft then later Luvox (the other shooter's medical records have never been released). It is reasonable to ask what medications the Dark Knight Shooter was taking, or the man who shot up that mall in Portland.
Congress has already held hearings on the dangers of SSRIs, but members of congress do not want to risk campaign contributions from Big Pharma, nor does the corporate media wish to lose those lucrative pharmaceutical advertising deals, so the public is kept in the dark, and the blame for violence dropped on guns.
The medical profession also knows there is a problem. They even have a fancy-sounding name for it, "Akathisia", a name used to cloud the link between psychotic episodes and prescription anti-depressants. According to the website lawyersandsettlements.com it is normal for pharmaceutical corporations to settle claims out of court and include a non-disclosure clause along with payment to the families. When cases do go to court, the court records are usually sealed.
Don’t take my word for it, web-search “SSRI suicide” and “SSRI homicide” and “SSRI violence” and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall piss you off!
#4 Posted by Michael Rivero, CJR on Tue 18 Dec 2012 at 12:54 PM
reply to comment Lisa (post #3)
Did I completely misread the article, or is your post exactly the kind of comment they are discussing.
One can't generalize lines of causation based on one or two incidents.
#5 Posted by unkjwea, CJR on Tue 18 Dec 2012 at 01:06 PM
Clearly the cause of the shooter's hatred of children was his residence in the state of Connecticutt, which has the motto "The Nutmeg State". As everyone knows, nutmeg is a frequently-used substitute for other, more illegal drugs, and clearly Connecticutt must be awash in young adults whose formative years were warped and corrupted by this constant exposure to the well-known "gateway spice". Add in that children are known to laugh at people who are different (perhaps because of heavy use of nutmeg?), and ipso facto, QED, we have a clear prima facie case of sine qua non and je ne sais quos. Clearly the shooter was a ticking time bomb of a powder keg just waiting to be triggered by one careless mention of a so-called "cooking spice" at the Thanksgiving table.
So, can we stop with the asinine speculation now? Aren't there auto accidents we can all gawk at in hopes of spotting a body part or something?
#6 Posted by JohnR, CJR on Tue 18 Dec 2012 at 03:38 PM
Michael Rivero posted a great article, he tells the truth about the damage and danger that doctors prescribe with the neuroleptic drugs, so pervasive in our country and with autism and others with dev. disabilities. These drugs create psychosis, I am the mother of a daughter with classic autism, and I have seen it! I wrote about it in Lonely Girl, Gracious God, her life story...up to the point that she was given these "meds" for the first time at age 24. Our nighmare began then, and as she slowly is going off the meds, so difficult a feat, she is getting better....but the brain damage may remain. Our politicians should bring this to light especially now...but they are owned by the pharmaceuticals. Check it out!!
#7 Posted by Lauri Khodabandehloo, CJR on Tue 18 Dec 2012 at 08:08 PM
I AM FROM MANCHESTER IN ENGLAND, DISBELIF THAT CHILDREN SHOT AT SCHOOL, AND SO YOUNG, THE TERROR THESE CHILDREN AND TEACHERS MUST HAVE GONE THROUGH, THIS MANIAC FROM WHAT I READ, SHOT IS WAY THROUGH GLASS, THIS COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE, WE NEED TO LOOK AT MORE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT THE VUNERABLE, WE DONT CARRY GUNS IN ENGLAND, I FEEL SAFE, YES WE HAVE SHOOTINGS ITS USUALLY GANGS ON GANGS, NOT LITTLE CHILDREN, LOCKS ON DOORS, CAMERAS DONT PROTECT, I ASKED HOW DID HE GET IN, WHO LET HIM IN,WAS THE DOOR UNLOCKED, CHILDREN DYING BECAUSE ANY MANIAC CAN HAVE A GUN IN THE USA, ITS TO LATE FOR THESE CHILDREN, BE ASHAMED, ITS UPTO YOURSELVES TO CHANGE THINGS, AND IT CAN BE DONE, STAND UP FOR THESE CHILDREN, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THEIR FAMILES, I CAME BACK FROM MEXICO 2/12/2012, I FELT SAFE THERE ON THE YUCATAN. I WOULDNT FEEL SAFE IN THE USA, NOT BEFORE AND NOT KNOW, YOUR NEVER GOING TO GET EVERYBODY TO HAVE TREATMENT IF NEEDED, BUT YOU CAN MAKE AMERICA A SAFER PLACE. GOD BLESS THE ANGELS AND THEIR TEACHERS,
#8 Posted by sheila dean, CJR on Wed 19 Dec 2012 at 05:24 AM
A must read "I am Adam Lanza's mother" by Liza Long in the San Francisco Chronicle of December 18, 2012.
#9 Posted by Stanley King, CJR on Wed 19 Dec 2012 at 02:02 PM
Many years before Asperger's Syndrome became a diagnosis these children were diagnosed as schizophrenic. Many times diagnoses look similar but there are qualitative differences. For instance, the shooter was a recluse. Asperger's individuals are not loners. Could it be that the shooter was misdiagnosed and actually had the early warning signs of schizophrenia. He was at the age in which it develops into full blown schizophrenia.
#10 Posted by Carolyn Harpole, Ph.D., CJR on Wed 19 Dec 2012 at 03:31 PM
My son has Autism and has drawn a knife on his Mother several times. It’s very sad that the opponents of gun control dribble out of the woodwork, like the political maggots they are demanding new gun laws when there is a traumatic incident as the one in Connecticut. However there are limits to what help you can receive from the medical profession as my family has found out. THERE IS LITTLE INTERVENTION OR ASSISTANCE TO HALT THIS TERRIBLE NEUROLOGICAL BRAIN IMBALANCE. ONCE AGAIN IT’S ALL ABOUT MONEY AND THE SILENCE FROM THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES WHO ARE BENEFITING FROM THIS ISSUE WITH BUCKETFULS OF DRUGS. OF COURSE THERE IS ANOTHER FACTOR THAT THE GUN ADVOCATES SAY LITTLE ABOUT, IN THAT THE DRUG COMPANIES MAY BEAR SOME RESPONSIBILITY IN THE INJECTIONS CONTAINING SMALL AMOUNTS OF TOXIC MERCURY GIVEN TO BABIES AT TIME OF BIRTH. WHEN ALL ASPECTS OF AUTISM IS ACCELERATING IN LARGER NUMBERS OF CHILDREN, WHY IS NOT MORE FUNDS AVAILABLE? In addition an only small contribution is evident to the growing problem of Autism, which is reaching uncomfortable proportions? More money is needed for research relating to the Autism Spectrum Disorder, which thousands of families must deal with on a daily basis. There are no guns in my household and yet I do not blame gun owners, the NRA or others who possess them to protect their families from heinous criminals who will circumvent any new gun laws. ALL I HEAR FROM THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA IS ABOUT AUTISM THAT THIS 20 YEAR OLD MAN WAS SHOULDERED WITH AND FINDING ANSWERS TO THIS TROUBLING ISSUE?
#11 Posted by Dave Francis, CJR on Wed 19 Dec 2012 at 05:07 PM
@Carolyne Harpote,
The "classic" schizophrenic is characteristically disorganized, and therefore would probably not be able to carry out this sort of attack, at least with this level of "success". It's my opinion- one could call it a theory- that some "spree" offenders have a combination of high-functioning autism and schizophrenia-LIKE symptoms (eg hallucinations). I believe this would explain, in particular, why some offenders who are evidently delusional still have enough "logic" to form and carry out complex plans.
#12 Posted by David N. Brown, CJR on Thu 20 Dec 2012 at 02:54 AM
Actually there is a tangential connection between autism and mass murder. People with autism are more likely to have a personality disorder that some have also alleged Lanza had Schizoid personality disorder which also isn't something that causes a person to become a mass murderer. However, Schizoid personality at a young age is a risk factor for paranoid schizophrenia. About 80% of all mass murderers have paranoid schizophrenia or some other form of psychosis (e.g., bipolar disorder). https://www.impartial-review.com/stories/the-ct-shooter-s-and-america-s-delusions-about-gun-control-will-sanity-prevail
Also, very few mass murderers have antisocial personality disorder. which has been bandied about as well. Mass murderers typically kills themselves, are delusional and may be depressed. Antisocial personalities don't kill themselves or become depressed and are not delusional.
But this is all just sheer speculation at this point. The main point is that most reports also misreport possible or likely psychological diagnosis
#13 Posted by Todd Miller, CJR on Fri 21 Dec 2012 at 04:19 AM
@Todd Miller,
Again, classifiying spree killers as "schizophrenic" in the clinical sense is problematic because of the level of organization their crimes entail. This could, in part, be a sign that the "classic" criteria for schizophrenia should be broadened, as has been done with autism over the last 20 years or so.
As far as Lanza's condition, I believe the reports that he had some kind of ASD are greatly strengthened by one particular account that he had to be supervised in the lab setting because he might burn himself without reacting. Insensitivity to pain is frequently reported in autistic people. Also, one of the earliest documented spree offenders (and my pick for the most dangerous I've heard of) appeared to be unaware of a significant injury he sustained until it was discovered during police interrogation.
David N. Brown
Mesa, Arizona
#14 Posted by David N. Brown, CJR on Sat 22 Dec 2012 at 12:06 AM
Since this happened, I've read that I deserve to be sat on fire. Since this has happened, I've been told I shouldn't be allowed to have guns. Since this has happened, I've been told that I'm screwed up. Leave me alone. I don't want to hurt anyone. I just want to live my life. (BTW, Groups like Autism Speaks and the Autism Research Institute could care less about us, NEVER use them as sources)
#15 Posted by Adam, CJR on Fri 28 Dec 2012 at 06:53 PM
Sorry for my english. I am belgian. It strug me to read t he nonsense about autismin our press too and I feel sorry for all those who do their best. I think people try to find a gothsheep instead of demanding themselve how a boy in a difficult familysetting and a strange behaviour can get capable of commiting such an act. I think it get to creapy for most and they look for the simple solution gothsheep.Weapons aren't the best advisers for such persons. But I hear it's very cultural in the US.Keep up and the storm will pass and keep up the good journalism, it's hard to find.Psychology is not white or black it is very complex and different disorders can exist mixed and I don't know if they are genetic or occur be conditioning. I'm no psy.
#16 Posted by Marc Gilis, CJR on Mon 31 Dec 2012 at 01:32 PM