Boldly Going Along the Autism Spectrum
Why a Sci-Fi Classic Appeals to Neurodivergent Individuals
By Thomas McPherson
Star Trek has been a staple of pop culture here in the U.S. and around the world for well over 50 years now. The adventures of Captains Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway, Burnham, and a whole host of other characters have captivated the public’s imagination for decades, and has one of the most passionate fanbases of any sci-fi/fantasy franchise. Whether they identify as Trekkies, Trekkers, or something else, Trek fans are passionate about their love of Star Trek.
Being a Trekkie who is neurodivergent (ADHD) myself, there are a lot of reasons why the various offerings on film and TV appeal to me. But for others, there is something deeply ingrained in the Star Trek universe and the characters who inhabit it that appeals to those on the autism spectrum.
On the surface, it makes perfect sense that the signature alien race of Star Trek, the Vulcans, are people those on the spectrum can relate to. Casual fans assume, after observing characters like Spock, that Vulcans lack emotions. That’s not true though—they not only possess emotions, they feel those emotions more deeply and intensely than their human counterparts, an inherent characteristic of many people on the autism spectrum. It’s the expression of emotion that is strictly forbidden by Vulcan society, which leads to their rather stern demeanor. And like interactions between neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals, that flat affect can lead to awkward, sometimes funny situations between the humans and Vulcans on Star Trek. Vulcans have a very literal, logical approach to life, and struggle at times to understand the colloquialisms and metaphors put forth by humans. This is also something that neurodivergent individuals find difficult to understand when interacting with neurotypical people, and something that makes the Vulcans relatable.
But there is a distinct difference between how Vulcans are viewed in Star Trek and how real-life society often treats those on the autism spectrum. Whereas autistic individuals commonly feel like outsiders, sometimes shunned and ridiculed by a populace that is overwhelmingly neurotypical, it is the very basis of the humans and Vulcans becoming close allies that sets the stage for Star Trek’s utopian future. Both societies emerging from violent pasts to forge an alliance that eventually becomes the United Federation of Planets. Vulcans are not only wholly accepted by their human counterparts, they are an integral part of this futuristic society.
This is not to say that Star Trek or we should view anyone on the autism spectrum as alien or otherworldly. And really, while they come from another world, the creators of Star Trek never meant for them to be truly alien, but rather portray a different aspect of the human audience who watches every week. While it’s clear that Vulcans were not created with the express intent of representing people on the autism spectrum, their portrayal, as well as their acceptance among neurotypical humans has been something the autistic community has embraced. And moreover, the world of Star Trek offers up a kinder, more accepting world, one where there is a very strong sense of justice. And despite the chaotic, sometimes bombastic adventures you might find on a typical episode of Trek, Earth is portrayed as a very quiet, orderly, egalitarian paradise, a place that accepts anyone. It is this fictional society portrayed in Trek that likely has the broadest appeal to a number of fans, both neurodivergent and neurotypical, something they, and I too, think is something worth aspiring to.
