A new study suggests that experiencing a mental illness is becoming a distinct political identity, particularly among Gen Z. Those who strongly identify with their mental health conditions are increasingly demanding expanded healthcare, education, and welfare funding.
Yes, it’s this exactly. Again, I’m not in the field, but I definitely have noticed it seems to be a real thing, both online and off.
Now, it could be that these people are getting told they also have narcissism, Machiavellianism, and/or psychopathy in addition to something else like autism. That’s if they get diagnosed by actual (ethical) professionals in the first place.
Because even with those traits, you are probably going to be savvy enough not to broadcast the dark triad, and with those traits, you are not likely to want to work on addressing them. You certainly are not going to pre-warn potential future victims.
The other thing I’ve tended to notice is that it seems lots of armchair diagnostics being made about almost any man who has almost any hobby that is not sportsball or hunting or fishing - “he’s probably on the spectrum”. I mean…wut.
And don’t get me started on the (mostly men it seems) that get accused of being an asshole, self-diagnosing and saying that they may have Asperger’s. Uh, no, the problem is most likely you have to work on your empathy.
All this armchair diagnosing is rather hilarious if it weren’t for all the harm it’s probably causing.