Active-But-Odd Group

Definition

Active but Odd

Lorna Wing and Judith Gould (1979) put forward the concept of a spectrum of autistic conditions.

As part of the spectrum, they described different manifestations of social interaction. These were aloof, passive, active but odd in their interactions. Since their early work, an additional group has been included referred to as “over formal and stilted in their approach to others.”

The active-but-odd group are those individuals who make spontaneous approaches to others, but in a peculiar, naïve, and one-sided way. These individuals are usually more able and they approach others on their own terms and their behavior is not modified according to the needs, interests, and responses of the person approached. Often the person seeks to indulge their special interest by talking at another person but not for the pleasure of reciprocal social interaction.

Compared with the aloof and passive groups, this group has much longer vocabularies and use their language...