Richard PattersonFollowing my previous blog, where we focused on character bonding and how common it is among people who regularly consume media. Today, I’d like to take the knowledge from that blog along with more information that focuses on those with disabilities. In this article, I’d like to put a spotlight on members of the disabled community, what impacts are made by trying to mimic on-screen characters, and what behaviors they might adopt.
Seeing outside the norms
The act of mimicking characters or character bonding for people with and without some form of disability is mostly similar between them. The difference lies in the severity of an individual’s cognitive and information processing. For example, people with autism who either have trouble understanding social cues or who have very active imaginations would sometimes pick up non-traditional social norms. In several sources, including App2vox, many people with autism emulate traits from sci-fi characters such as robots or aliens. They find these types of characters more relatable because of their similarities.
The viewer sees the robot/alien as the odd one out among common people, not understanding social norms, having a different point of view on situations, and in some cases, the tone of the character depending on if it’s monotone or other common speech that’s common among people with autism.
Caution to copying characters
However, there’s potentially a negative effect when it comes to people with disabilities copy media, and it’s called masking. Masking, also known as impression management, is when someone with a disorder such as autism, ADHD, or other non-visible disabilities acts as if they don’t have their disability.
Although this isn’t exclusive to mimicking characters, it can be common depending on the individual’s understanding of their disability. Or if they are consuming media with a character they can relate to. Many people who do this form of masking not only struggle through life by not getting help with their disability.
Some can develop depression, anxiety, and added stress. While thinking their disability isn’t, many people with autism, ADHD, etc., end up hurting themselves trying to emulate the norm.
Closing thoughts
Like character bonding for the average viewers, people with disabilities bond or mimic fictional characters because it inspires them to adapt to their disability. There’s no end to shows and movies and the many characters within them from which to take inspiration. As more representation is spotlighted, more people with disabilities can find their character to relate to. Though it can be hard to understand all the social norms and what traits emulate from a fictional character, what matters is that you don’t need to become the character; you need to be yourself.
https://theableshow.com/finding-relatability-in-characters-out-of-the-norm
https://app2vox.com/resources/why-some-autistic-individuals-love-science-fiction