YThis is all too understandable.
Now this is sounding like my own son:
It is not that he steals or does anything antisocial. But it is that he does not seem to get cause and effect and he does not see that others will not take as primary his priorities.
For example, he was living with a friend and friend's father. People he likes and knew for many years. The dad said no marijuana. And pay rent. My son does not understand that those are rules and that if he does not choose to follow them, there are consequences. TO HIM. I could tell you a dozen more situations where my son suffered because he cannot get that others have interests, too. And that if they have power over him, he loses. My son is NOT amoral and he is not conduct disordered. Honestly, I have never looked at it this way, for him. That this could be on the autism spectrum. That he is just not computing.
Yes. As I am posting here, I am wondering for me if there is some kind of defense involved. I ascribe intent because accepting my son is so limited would be intolerable to me. Do I protect myself by seeing him as motivated to not understand or indifferent? If this is the case I am causing myself and him a great deal of heartache.
