Was Chris autistic?

Here you can discuss anything related to Christopher McCandless.
Lxndr
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2012 3:50 am

Re: Was Chris autistic?

Postby Lxndr » Thu Aug 02, 2012 3:55 am

there is a distinct possibility.
The problem is, Autism is a spectrum, so it's hard to really determine whether a person IS on the scale, or simply showing high-functioning symptoms.
I suffer from high-functioning austism myself, and found myself thinking Chris was likely on the spectrum.

Shira Y & Jordyn M
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2012 4:06 pm

Re: Was Chris autistic?

Postby Shira Y & Jordyn M » Thu Oct 04, 2012 4:28 pm

To this comment we highly disagree. We think that whoever made this assumption is judging Chris’s life as they trying to label him and figure out why he did what he did. In this response the writer only acknowledges five personality traits that she/he personally thinks contributes to Chris’s possible autism. Her/his first point is “sensory issues”. Here she/he mentions that McCandless didn’t like wearing socks and his lack of hygiene. I strongly think that his lack of hygiene was intentional. The whole reason why he went into the wild was to get away from materialist possessions such as homes with showers. Part of the adventure was to live off the wild and what nature provides you. It is not like Chris to spent money on a hotel room and nice bubble baths. To address the issue regarding his socks, well we all have strange habits that doesn't mean we are autistic.

The second issue that he/she addresses is Chris’s lack of “normal relationships”. I COMPLETELY disagree with this point. I think that this person has no rights to make the assumption that McCandless never had any or serious romantic relationships, you are not him and/or you weren’t his shadow. We don’t know much about this part of his personal side thus you cannot have that as a valid point in your argument that Christopher McCandless was autistic. Many people have secret relationships as a result of many things such as religion; CM could have had secret relationships. Some people like to keep their private lives private and not publicize their relationships. I think that if he had been in a relationship with someone he would have cut it off just like he did for everyone in his life prior to his Alaskan Odyssey. Chris wanted no string attached and would have gotten out of the relationship. I also think that he may have distanced himself from people the last couple of years before going into the wild in fear that we would meet new people that he connected with that would try to stop him from going, or that he might feel attached to much and then not take such risks (kind of like if he had taken his dog with him).

Many people have adventurous spirits and like to go their own way, Chris was no exception. He spent much of his time in the wild as a young boy with his grandpa. He never quite fit in with society, and his escape was in the wilderness. We all have our own escapes. He didn't suffer from autism in my opinion, I just feel he was very mature for his age. He didn't like to follow rules, and this contributes to his attraction for "wandering/tramp" lifestyle. I feel that Chris was afraid of commitment, and this is why he never settled down. His father's betrayal and affair is what caused him to be cautious about commitments and relationships.

flow for days
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2012 6:26 pm

Re: Was Chris autistic?

Postby flow for days » Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:29 pm

I disagree on this one. Chris was not autistic, he was a true man for doing what he did. He did not put all of his time and energy on forming relationships with people, based on his knowledge of relationships (his parents). He did not want to be hurt, or loved or feel the emotions of being in a sexual relationship. He focused his energy on his schooling and getting his degree. He knew that if he wanted to go back to the real world, and make a career for himself that he would be able to because he was well educated. He was self regulated becuase his train of thought was much different then most peoples. They were not on the same intelectual level as he was. He did not want to be fenced in. He wanted to experience the world for himself. He was by no means autistic or he would not have been as smart as he was and unable to make it in school, better yet study what he did in college. He felt he had a higher purpose then to be like everyone else, a follower in the footsteps of their parents. He wanted more.

motherofanaspie
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon May 27, 2013 1:11 pm

Re: Was Chris autistic?

Postby motherofanaspie » Mon May 27, 2013 1:30 pm

In the nineties, when my son was young, I was blown away by the book, so when I heard that Sean Penn was going to turn it into a movie, I was very excited.

The movie blew me away even more - I thought it was very well done, especially if you already know what's going to happen - which is not a small feat.

Eventually I owned the DVD and just now I've watched it online for the umpteenth time. I owned the DVD before my son played his 'disappearance' trick on me (22 at the time). He also turned his back on his father (which I was told by a family member).

I think Chris just despised what his parents stood for and equated this with society. It is a child's ultimate revenge to do this to parents. And revenge on what... their imperfection? My son has just, after 21 months of avoiding me, made contact with me. He says he wants to fix things and that he misses me. I am wary and alert. I've diagnosed that my son has something like Asperger's, the high-functioning- high IQ kind. He's always had friends though, and that is because from the age of one I socialised with other mothers with kids his age. For my son, having friends is a way of life. His father is 100% Aspie, and never had/has any friends.

Furthermore, from my son's father I've learnt that they can function quite well with a MASK on and if you don't know who you are dealing with, the mask looks like a likeable person (as Chris did on his travels). A woman who shared her life with an Asperger man for twenty years told me that they can have quite a terrible sting. This then, is exactly what I've experienced with my son's father (long my ex) and later with my son.

If Chris had Asperger's Syndrome (or another related term, PDD-NOS) we, and no-one for that matter, not even his parents, can understand how such a mind works. What makes them do what they do or don't do? This is even impossible to understand with 'ordinary' people. But who is ordinary anyway? We're all affected by genes and upbringing, even if we think we're perfect.

I love Chris for having dared to do what he did. And does it matter that he died young? I don't think so. 'We all want to grow old, but not BE it', an 80-year old uncle of mine said. I volunteer with the elderly and most wish they croak before Christmas, or something like it.

You did well Chris, because you lived life the way YOU saw fit. How many people dare do that? It's a pity he had to hurt his family so badly in the process. We all get our share.

Pescado
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2013 3:08 am

Re: Was Chris autistic?

Postby Pescado » Tue Jun 04, 2013 4:42 am

While I can see why this question was initially posed, I think the single biggest factor dismissing the autism theory is his education; it is highly unlikely that any autistic individual would perform so well (unaided and unassisted) and graduate from Emory University. (ranked 20th in the US)

Prince
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Jan 09, 2018 4:54 am

Re: Was Chris autistic?

Postby Prince » Tue Jan 09, 2018 5:04 am

Christopher McCandless could very well have developed autistic tendencies from his abusive father. Growing up in fear can do a lot to people such as; causing them to be closed off, struggling to form and maintain relationships, and being very independent. If McCandless has any disorder, it's because his dad did this to him. Yes, he very well could (and probably does) have a mild form of autism, but most likely everything would of been different if he grew up in a nice home. I'm not a psychologist or anything, but I understand his situation well, and when someone grows up like McCandless did the results aren't always pretty. He was running from his father and because of how he grew up he could be considered on the autism spectrum. Fear can do a lot to people, and everyone handles it differently, McCandless's journey is how he handled his, and it was the one way he could get away from his father.

Issassi
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2018 1:50 pm

Re: Was Chris autistic?

Postby Issassi » Mon Oct 08, 2018 2:05 pm

As I read the book this thought (along with schizophrenia, which obviously is a rule-out) crossed my mind many times. Unlike schizophrenia, one can be mildly autistic.
I agree with you.
I think there is no way that Chris did not have some sort of mental/emotional disturbance or disorder. I also considered personality disorder. But mild autism kept coming back as the most likely.
All the reasons you put forth seem accurate.
Plus, his family were well-trained. They all had learned his buttons and how to avoid them. This suggests an inflexibility that is inborn, and a loving family who had adjusted to his syndrome. To them, it was just eccentricity. Until he took off.

Finally I will say that Chris was malnourished for literally years before he went to Alaska. If you read the second Afterword, susceptibility to the toxins in potato roots is worse among malnourished (or missing diverse food groups) males of his age group.
I also believe that his semi-fasting states throughout his travels both induced euphoria and also impaired his judgement. He just was no longer “of this world” after a point.
I feel sorry for him and for his family. However, the love and support of his family I think greatly enabled Chris to be as high-functioning as he was. As to whether he truly “lived a happy life” - that is not for me to judge. I hope that is true.

Sum
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2020 2:45 am

Re: Was Chris autistic?

Postby Sum » Thu Jan 09, 2020 3:00 am

Guys it’s just ADHD - and of course, in conjunction with his personality and life experiences - its not common public knowledge but those myriad quarks, emotional and social damages are cause largely by the ‘disorder,’ if you will.
All of those claims related to autism actually stem from ADHD, just buried deep in this story. They are not unique to him, but Extremely amplified.

An opinion, of course.


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