[ad_1]
These are the seven facts that reveal that Poirot was probably autistic:
RELEVANT ARTICLES
1. Social exclusion
Social exclusion describes obstacles to social participation, when for various reasons a person or group is faced with difficulties or discrimination in certain areas of daily life. Poirot’s surroundings constantly consider him “different”, sometimes attributing the difference to his Belgian origin and sometimes to his “strange” behavior. In the story of “Dumb Witness” (1937) he is even described as “exotic in a good sense”.
2. Scripting
Scripting is a tool that autistic people use and is similar to echolalia. It involves creating a ‘script’, a preparation about what they will say, just as Poirot did when he prepared hypothetical conversation scenarios before having them, planning what he would say and how he would behave.
3. Camouflage
Another characteristic of some people on the autistic spectrum is the attempt to hide (camouflage) their behaviors and personal details so that they can fit in more easily. According to the two researchers, the technique of concealment is highlighted in the story “The Party” (Hallowe’en Party), where the detective seems to take advantage of his uniqueness, knowing how others will treat him, thus adjusting his behavior.
4. Psychology
Poirot is interested in psychology, a field that particularly interests autistic people because of their desire to understand people in depth. He testifies that his brain and way of thinking works differently from those around him, while undoubtedly appreciating close friend and colleague Hastings for his “neurotypical” insights, telling him: “In you, Hastings, I find that the normal mind is almost perfectly represented».
5. Interaction
Poirot exhibits unique patterns of interaction, which are not always understood by the other characters or considered strange. This, the researchers comment, reveals both the differences in communication and the misunderstandings it can create between neurotypical and neurodifferentiated individuals.
The famous detective is not influenced by social norms and morals but approaches each person based on their character and regardless of their age, biological or social sex and socio-economic status. Agatha Christie often “played” with the prejudices of her readership, forcing her hero to see beyond them. For example, in “Peril at End House” (1932), Hastings believes that a former admiral should be above suspicion, yet Poirot counters that “no doubt he has attended what you consider a proper school. Fortunately, as a foreigner, I am free from such prejudices and can continue my research unhindered».
6. Routine
Poirot follows an orderly and methodical way of solving the mysteries. He likes to maintain a routine, like with his meals, about which he is very specific: “For breakfast, I only eat toast cut into small squares». People on the autism spectrum often feel secure in familiarity and eating the same or safe foods.
7. Sensory regulation
The Central Nervous System regulates and adapts the sensory stimuli of the environment so that individuals adapt their behavior appropriately in a space. This is sensory tuning. The tight patent leather shoes he wears to the Party do just that: they create a familiar sensory environment that allows him to think straight and he appreciates the time he spends alone to process all the information he’s received. Additionally, he likes to keep his immediate surroundings, including his friend Hastings, clean and tidy. These are typical behaviors of autistic people.