Reasons Spencer Reid Is Autistic

[@BabyGirl-if8fo]

Reid: *babbling about Aspergers* Lady: what about you Reid: *sassily* what's that?

[@delightfulhormones]

That wasn’t him being sassy. Reid has difficulty reading social cues and genuinely did not understand that she was making a joke/implying he’s autistic.

[@holl1.i3]

it’s blake btw

[@clairelally5236]

I actually thought Reid's joke was funny.

[@lmn6023]

Claire Lally The joke was okay, I mean lightbulb jokes get boring fast, but he was so absolutely cute in this scene, I would have laughed just to make him feel better

[@hailiebechler7844]

I got the joke and I laughed- oops.

[@AusticHardOfHearingSinger]

Claire Lally Me too.

[@ashantiharlan6645]

I actually got the punchline, And I'm only 14 years old.

[@adamnomad7182]

Claire Lally: Made sense to me, which is weird because I'm not an existiancialist.

[@lianthony4827]

I'm high-functioning autistic and my driving instructor once tried to get me out of the class while we were watching a video about drunk driving that had a lot of graphic images and he didn't want me to flip out or something, but then I was like "If Dr. Spencer Reid can witness brutal crime scenes and be totally fine, then I can watch a five minute video of something that I need to learn." He did let me stay and watch the video cause according to him, "If you can watch Criminal Minds with no problem, then you'll be fine here I guess." And to this day, it is still one of my greatest victories.

[@amirah6729]

Raia Wings i dont know why but this comment is so cuteeee

[@sydneyhunter660]

Cute

[@adrianadarrigo8389]

I want to like but it is exactly 300 likes, I can’t ruin it (I have OCD)

[@macpollen]

As a one too, I’m laughing at this because I’m this way too. Can watch a whole season of it in one day and have watch all of dexter and supernatural plus seen Jeffrey Dalmer Polaroids (mostly due to seeing a TikTok about it) and somehow not effected by it.

[@Miloeren12]

You’re looking more like low functioning

[@giselleloredo54]

i find it crazy that the rest of the team are so smart and could easily figure out that spencer is on the spectrum, yet they are so passive aggressively mean and don’t try to explain things to him that he would never understand

[@orangine2543]

Like it’s obvious they love spencer but sometimes they can be so mean and I’m just like :(

[@giselleloredo54]

Orangine yes!! it hurts to see spencer’s face when they tell him to stop talking

[@Lunji]

Could it be that much like not profiling each other they also respect each other enough not to pretend to fix him? Be yourself Spencer, you might frustrate us sometimes but you don't need to change in any way other than what you want to?

[@orangine2543]

Lunji I honestly love that take on it

[@haleyallen5755]

Lunji Didn’t they say somewhere they don’t like profiling each other? That was always my take on it anyway, that it was just how Reid is and they didn’t mind.

[@sleepysmartboy6287]

I have aspergers and my parents actually introduced me to Criminal Minds when I got my diagnosis so I could see Reid and the positive representation.

[@blindinglogic5458]

That's honestly so cool!

[@christybradfield7812]

How have you been able to use watching the show to grow?

[@sleepysmartboy6287]

@@christybradfield7812 I mean for the most part it wasn't about growth as much as seeing somebody who was like me and portrayed as a good person and a smart one and who's doing big things. Boosted my confidence

[@christybradfield7812]

@@sleepysmartboy6287 that is great! I admire your parents for their wisdom is showing you the show.

[@Childofposeidon35]

Oh gosh, I'm sooo happy to not being the only one who discovered Criminal Minds and Reid in this way!

[@josieparker4710]

If he is autistic, he’s a really good example. I love how he isn’t super cold. He can be very empathetic which is rare in portrayals of Autistic characters!

[@valeriebernstein9167]

He also has no problem with change because he has a different hairstyle every season.

[@lionmane1856]

@@valeriebernstein9167 hair is different. I myself am autistic and is especially rigid. I would scream and throw stuff if my teacher would change the seating charts. But despite that I've always changed my hair constantly. Now that I'm older I'm constantly cutting and bleaching and dyeing it. I hate change but self expression is an entirely different ball game!!!

[@GaySatanicClowns]

@@lionmane1856 The seating charts, my god. I have a place and I would like to stay there.

[@curiosity_killed_the_batt]

@@valeriebernstein9167 as an autistic person myself, i love changing my hair but other more dramatic changes and other unexpected changes also still affect me a lot

[@andrewfussy9204]

@@valeriebernstein9167 If the autistic person chooses the change then they don't have a problem with the change. If the change is forced on them it will cause problems.

[@thegatekeeper8612]

The reason Reid told the joke to the college students is because in college he got that joke and assumed that they would get it

[@DeWoodyard]

During my "higher ed", it amazed me how small some individual vocabularies were, skills deficits, basic stuff.

[@karmaart9783]

When I tell you I died laughing when I first heard the joke I mean it

[@Goldenheart_345]

ALSO can we talk about how Garcia also fits the criteria? Her hyperfixation is technology, she has a strict moral code (common in those of us with autism), cannot handle change, is bad at social boundaries (flirting = friendship, even accidentally doing it in front of strangers), and her lining up and playing of objects can be seen as repetitive behavior.

[@mooglew1705]

I think Gideon might be on the spectrum too.

[@queenofcookie3299]

@@mooglew1705 yeah he some times stands around quietly and walks off and forgets to tell the others what he is doing or thinking

[@sidpeanut]

I always thought Garcia was more ADHD

[@Goldenheart_345]

@@sidpeanut adhd and autism are often comorbid :) so she could have both

[@sidpeanut]

@@Goldenheart_345 very true!

[@laurenlifke6981]

Everybody's just now realizing this?? I was thinking it from the first episode

[@juliem1742]

I started to pick it up in the first episode when they talk about his intelligence

[@avoo190]

I think the writer said something about it too..?

[@shroombean9329]

I just started watching it today and immediately noticed it lmao

[@mari-oz8oq]

Lauren L sane fr

[@cez_is_typing]

Same, immediately thought aspergers and then schizophrenia later on

[@GummyBear651]

I loved how an unsub called out his ‘tism before any of the team. Reid is definitely one of the absolute best and accurate media representations of autism I’ve seen to date. He’s not depicted as an emotionally unintelligent cold hearted person, we see him incredibly frequently display high levels of empathy towards the team, especially towards Morgan, JJ, and their kids, and that’s another thing! Autistics are brilliant with kids and it was awesome to see Reid be so involved with Henry and become ecstatic at JJ naming him the godfather. I love Reid with all my heart

[@oliviadixon8800]

The more I see Matthew's character cry and sad, the more I wish he could've been a real person so I could've been his friend as a kid lol I'm so weird

[@sararas283]

i feel like that to like if he was real and not a character i’d listen to his rants and try to understand if i didn’t and ask questions not be so damn dismissive and mean like the others

[@abbyboyd5111]

@@sararas283 First off sorry for the long post. I am adhd and bipolar manic depressive with extreme social anxiety and though I appreciate what you are saying; I don't believe they are dismissing him and/or being "mean" to him intentionally (stick with me here cause I tend to do the same (ramble)). The character of Reid is always lost in his intellect. It is obvious he has a great amount of information in his head and he likes sharing it. The co-workers having dealt with his idiosyncrasies for some time now are in fact being his friend. They realize that he can ramble when sharing the info. They know that it is just what he does and so to keep him on point they disrupt that behavior by dismissing him or by stopping him altogether. It is not done out of spite or from a bad place. It is done because as his friends they no longer feel the need to beat around the bush. I never saw his character being upset by it. That's just my opinion. Your view may be different and that is OK. The real takeaway is that the character of Spencer Reid is a positive role model for people considered awkward or socially inept. It shows that people such as him can be successful in spite of their presumed defiencies. Just my half cent worth. Take it as you will.

[@steveharvey4267]

@@abbyboyd5111 I have ADD/ADHD, insomnia, anxiety, and depression and I tend to ramble a lot and every time I do ramble it’s either my friends want to listen to it because they are interested or I get shut down real fast because my family or friends don’t want me going on a whole tangent. I mainly get shut down by my family because all my friends have ADD/ADHD and they know what it’s like to ramble or they we are having a conversation and I start to ramble and they just bud in and add to the conversation.

[@grimmster965]

@@steveharvey4267 Thanks for the reply. Your response begs a question.. So when friends and family interupt you; do you take offense to that or do you think they are trying to break the cycle of rambling? For me. I know that they are doing it to stop the cycle and not rude or offensive. To be honest most of what I say isn't really important more like bits or trivia. So interupting me isn't going to destroy the world or upset the balance of nature. I think I'm rambling again.... So night Gracie. Does anyone get that reference?

[@steveharvey4267]

@@grimmster965 yeah I don’t take offense I know I’m rambling and I know my family wants to get me to stop talking also I spew small facts and bits of trivia as well

[@LadyLightningstorm]

I have Asperger's myself and I can certainly say that Reid's interactions are frequently easier to understand than most of the others'.

[@user-hp2ww5in3n]

So true!

[@bfh1210]

I also have asperger and I completely agree. I mean I’m not smart but i see his behavior in him in me but my doctor refused to diagnose me in 2004 bc she didn’t think it was a real think I’m 2016 my new doctor confirmed that it was a level one Austim

[@bfh1210]

In 2016*

[@belenseoane]

Exactly!! He's just so direct and says what he wants to say. The others just dance around what they mean but never exactly say what they want to say.

[@heyoitsLJ]

agreed

[@davido.1233]

This is something I've experienced before: During the first point, you showed a clip where Reid was emotional and Morgan was comforting him, the thing I spotted was that Morgan says "Listen to me" rather than "Look at me". When people say "Look at me" towards someone with Autism, the person will look at them and not pay any attention to what they're saying, so spot-on for Morgan to use the correct phrasing to get Reid to actually pay attention.

[@GummyBear651]

This is exactly why I love Morgan and Reid’s relationship so much, Morgan (and the team) actually made the effort to learn how Reid works and adjusted to him to the absolute best of their ability

[@girlpapyrus2278]

6:01 I love how he doesn’t even notice he’s spinning in the chair.

[@wynterwolfrose228]

Maybe he does but it’s an everyday thing he just doesn’t acknowledge it

[@icouldbeakiwi]

Reid is by far my favorite character in the show, he's so precious :) he reminds me of my little brother as well

[@valeriel9755]

I loved the story at the beginning but after episode 2 of season 1 I just watched it for spencer😂😅

[@adelinedunlap9448]

I loved the show but after i finished it the first time I re-watched to watch Reid.

[@chaosx___9707]

ive always assumed that reids autism was supposed to be canon but never explicitly stated so the writers wouldn’t have to deal with the stigma that surrounds autism or the pressure of good representation. it always came across as them using a loophole in characterisation

[@allie_678]

If I recall correctly, I think the character wasn’t originally written to be autistic, but the actor said that he deliberately _acts_ Reid as an autistic character. That would mean it was a choice by the actor, not the writers, which is why it’s not explicitly stated in the script.

[@beelzebubisrotting]

Spencer/Mathew crying brakes my heart but watching him babble about my favorite holiday makes me so happy

[@sam-wo3nd]

it’s funny how in real life matthew gray gubler actually loves Halloween/fall too, it’s so cute

[@katielemmon2581]

Mine too

[@katielemmon2581]

​@@sam-wo3nd I know right. He has some videos on KZbin at least he did if you haven't checked them out you might want to I have seen some of them and I thought they were funny but I don't know if they took them off or not you know how crazy KZbin can be.

[@miaalsen1561]

I have Aspergers and I do see a lot of that in Spencer. I love that he is the st he is because it makes it easier for other people to understand. even though they don't say it out loud on the show but still.. I am also in love with how Matthew Gray gubler portrays him. he is a really awesome actor

[@cherrylipscrystalskys1767]

Mia Alsen Yes he does such a good job of acting Spencer!

[@AusticHardOfHearingSinger]

Mia Alsen Same.

[@AusticHardOfHearingSinger]

Mia Alsen Agreed. He is.

[@TheFluffyWendigo]

I have a mild form of schizophrenia and within reason I can understand why some of the antagonists do what they do.

[@juliakrasinski]

I have Aspergers as well! And I love the show because it’s quite obvious that Spencer does show signs of Autism, and tbh he is my favorite 😝 He’s just so funny

[@doktor_ghul]

It is, quite honestly, baffling to me how these characters interact with Spencer ( based upon the individual writer's choices, of course. Some writers have a better grasp of the characters than others. ), and how in one episode, they are dismissive and contemptuous of his knowledge and abilities, and in others, they rely upon him and value him to a much greater degree. Being mean to someone simply because you are either in awe of his knowledge, or find his "geeky" social standing less than ideal, reflects upon you, more than the one you're mean to.

[@kpaxian6044]

I do think they like him, but like everyone - if they are stressed or not feeling well, then they are taxed too and might be more reactive. I tend to ramble a lot if I am anxious or highly interested in a subject, and I find that sometimes people I know are better with my quirks, sometimes less so if they are having a bad day. I imagine it is the same thing with Reid. (For the record, I keep melatonin on me so if I am anxious and close to rambling, I can take something to make me a little more sedate. :/)

[@lenastorm6280]

Imagine Spencer Reid, Tony Stark ("Iron Man") and Sherlock Holmes from "BBC Sherlock" stucked in an elevator for 24 hours! XD

[@sabrinatodd817]

Lena Storm they will get out in less that an hour

[@samokat3738]

Let us add Gregory House from House M.D

[@ballerlegend2484]

Reid*

[@jerricapratt8287]

Lena Storm so interesting

[@solkiyoko227]

Holy fuck

[@sophieezrol]

i thought the “garcia and kevin sitting in a tree” was more a play on the fact that he skipped most of elementary school

[@rachaelmiller859]

At first I thought this was going to be a stupid video, but then I watched it and realized how true it was

[@cherrylipscrystalskys1767]

Rachael Miller haha thank you! It's wild how obvious it is when you start thinking about it!

[@anthonylongoria2638]

It's been confirmed for years, basically from the start, his number of degrees and I.Q were also hints before they verbally confirmed it.

[@tereasdownes9793]

Im autistic i never shared my inner feelings incase of being judged

[@MossySaturn]

I was curious to see and was amazed at how true it was as well

[@Blade-hf9po]

Doesn't matter. I'd still prefer his company to either morgan or Hotch.

[@demigodwizard3174]

Blade1301 yep

[@matilda8675]

why would it matter

[@CJLOVE23]

I don’t know where MGG starts and Spencer Reid begins!

[@danielhuddleston6624]

Everyone on the show is so mean to Reid wtf

[@samarasanchez9321]

They’re not necessarily mean and when they are they’re more passive aggressive they’re close enough that they can joke around with him and not offend him and he understands they’re not being mean but sometimes they do blur the line between funny and mean

[@Samantha-sq8yh]

And that’s why the creators of the show can never admit that he is autistic, because then they would have to admit that half their character interactions are just poking fun at an autistic person.

[@GaySatanicClowns]

My being your 500th like was very satisfying to the eye. "I'm trying to be more conversational." "Oh.. It isn't working." Not to mention how often they tell him to shut up. I know they're friends, but it seems rude.

[@oliviagrace363]

Honestly I find the way he acts super cute

[@AusticHardOfHearingSinger]

He is like me. I am autistic. I was diagnosed as a child with it, and then again as an adult with high functioning ASD. So, I know Dr. Spencer Reid has ASD, formerly known as "Asperger's."

[@lightningkitten]

high-functioning autism is no longer colloquially or medically referred to as Asperger's. that label, as well as PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Delay - Not Otherwise Specified), were deprecated in the DSM-5 in favor of the broader category of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

[@Quinn-bq9sv]

Spencer Reid is a nuerodivergent king

[@lizicamsell5469]

I've been waiting for someone to mention dyspraxia in Reid for so long! When I found out I had it, it made me quite happy to think that one of my favourite characters would understand (as sad as it sounds)

[@elliottsimpson5927]

Does it bother anyone else that Reid literally knows EVERYTHING and his facts can be super helpful to the case and the team doesnt even bat an eye at his brilliance?

[@llawliet8109]

Me

[@paulw.woodring7304]

The character of Dr. Spencer Reid is a plot device that allows the story line to be moved along with him explaining complicated concepts or short cutting events for the sake of timing and allowing the episode to end in the time allotted. At least that's how I've come to see him.

[@lelmdrWHO]

I disagree with some of these examples but I do think he's on the spectrum. It's kind of awesome because there are so few characters like him on television let alone represented as doing well in a high stress job. Also goes to show why people love this team so much. They are true friends and family. Sometimes they're snarky and tease but are never mean and always accepting. They are patient and help him when he struggles and always acknowledge his talents and what his unique perspective can bring to the team. It may be a fairly easy thing to do with a character written like Spencer Reid, but sets an excellent example on how to treat people with autism with respect and value

[@llawliet8109]

I agree with you

[@lunafox9]

Agreed also I love how the team treats him just like how they treat everyone else just with a little patience, it shows how people that are nerodivergent like autism should be treated just how you would treat any other person and to give them a little patience. Especially since I have ADD it's also called ADHD-ADP meaning Attention Deficient Hyperactive Disorder Attention Deficient Prominent or as I say brain thinks to fast or no happy brain chemicals to focus but no physically hyper most of the time, I don't know why they say Attention deficient when it's actually our brain process dopamine differently so like the more dopamine we have or get from something the more motivation and willingness to do said thing that's why most nerodivergent people can learn something very quickly but not do the project that's due in a week, that's why nerodivergent to listen to music, podcasts, TV, etc. while doing chores cause what they're listening to gives them dopamine, which gives them more motivation to do those things. Also, most people who are nerodivergent, mostly ADHD and Autism have sensory processing disorder, meaning that certain things can bother their senses the most common example is seams on socks and tags on clothes bother their touch and from experience can give a feeling from slight irritation to anxiety, that's why there's a common subject of safe/comfort foods(or any sensory objects with safe in front of it like safe clothes/comfort clothes meaning those clothes they can trust to feel comfortable).

[@vitorialeite2851]

I'm a late-diagnosed autistic and I've always related so much to Reid, I grew up watching Criminal Minds since I was 7. When I found out I'm autistic (at 17), I realized Reid's character had all the traits needed to be diagnosed as autistic, so I decided to rewatch the show. Now, Criminal Minds has become my new special interest and Reid is definitely my comfort character :) The only sad thing is that the team is always so mean to him about his autistic traits :(

[@lennoxvazquez]

"His ability to just piano" is my favorite thing😂

[@baileyowens6906]

I hate how rude to him they are when he's talking about something he loves like Halloween or Sci-fi :(

[@nessyness5447]

Bailey Owens i know, specially it bothers me that tv shows make it look like only very smart and socially akward people can like sci-fi or things like that, why can't a guy like morgan for example be a fan of star wars as much as reid? or jj...there are never pretty girls being fans of sci-fi or comics on tv shows. "normal" people also like those kind of things, and also there are genius people who don't like those things. the tv makes it look like if you are a genius you have to like the friki stuff and at the same time everyone who likes the friki stuff is good at science, can't like sports and lacks social skills. that is stupid, different people can be fans of the same things

[@Vernal_Sky]

I'm a young woman with Asperger's so I can totally understand and see what he exhibits since I displays just about all these issues myself. And that chess scene was particularly saddening.

[@ChrisManley1994]

"I'm trying to be more conversational." "Oh, it's not working!" Hahahahaha

[@darkhorseash4337]

Plus with the bag one you can see him stimming with the corner of it when he's walking in that clip

[@emmajackson1028]

his musical ability wouldn't be classified as savantism he used math skills which would be classified as savantism but not musical ability

[@Childofposeidon35]

I don't think so because I've done the same thing like three months ago, on a piano. I'm an Asperger like Reid and I've just started playing it, but I never played any musical instrument, so I think it's possible😂 Btw sorry for my english, I'm not sure it's correct.

[@jimmyskeletons7403]

@@Childofposeidon35 yes, I relate to what you said. picking up instruments specifically has been incredibly easy for me (as someone on the spectrum) and it’s a common trait in autistic people. not just with instruments but that’s just one example

[@LB_THE_NINJA]

Id be in a constant trance with Reid, i love the way he talks so fluently about stuff, in particular random yet in depth facts like his rambling about halloween

[@gachaeva7594]

When they met everyone was like "woah!" And penellape like "i like this guy"

[@WizardOfHumor1989]

Dr spencer Reid would Make a great helper and friend for dr Sean Murphy (The Good Doctor) for coping with autism symptoms

[@jesterjacks3933]

I have asperger's syndrome, I actually learned to sign because my step mum though I I was putting up gang signs; She apologised after she learned about my mild autism but she really likes it when I sign while talking to her, it helps a lot with my confidence while I'm at school.

[@jesterjacks3933]

Also, the chopsticks thing is just chopsticks; My family, for the life of them can't do it...

[@cherrylipscrystalskys1767]

okay dudes i lit forgot about this channel and came back and saw all these views so first of all wow thank u guys for liking and commenting!! that’s so nice of u! but to people saying that he isn’t autistic, see the criteria i used? that is the criteria that is used for official diagnosis. if u meet that criteria, u will be diagnosed with autism. that’s a fact. all i’m doing is showing examples of reid meeting the criteria and honestly?? i don’t know why some of u are offended by that he’s only a character and i just thought this was interesting! this is only a bit of entertainment and a look in to a possible character trait!! but again thanks so much for these views wow i’m so glad so many people enjoyed the vid, thank u guys so much i am blown away by the popularity of this vid?!???

[@cherrylipscrystalskys1767]

also yis may stop being nasty about autism etc in the comments getting on like it’s bad he has it or i’m gonna have to start deleting comments that’s not nice at all!

[@devilishmusic1185]

He has the same kind as the doctors think I have

[@kaydrianpoplin7451]

What episode is 11:57 from

[@teaartist6455]

Wait, the hands thing isn't just normal gesturing? Like, I just GOT what he was doing with his hands, I thought that was normal, I do that stuff! Oh, okay then...care to educate me on any other obvious things everyone missed because I was a girl?

[@cecynor]

The ¨mistake¨ you make is that (in many of these) you take 1 moment to prove your point when in reality 3 things happen... 1_ you need to have those behaviours as a norm (for more than 6 months or so and in every occasion when the situation occurs with similar characteristics) 2_ Most of those are taken out of context ... Like: A) Given the fact that his father walk out when he was a child and he was left with adult's like responsibilities, he might find it hard to trust others (with his feelings or secrets) B) The odd behaviour around people can be easily attributed to the fact that he as a child had to take care of his mother so didn't have a normal childhood, C) Highly intelligent people find it difficult to have a ¨normal¨ conversation due a lack of interest in ¨normal¨ subjects and appear to be odd people when they try. D) The sensitivity to light due a 2 days headache, can easily be a migraine, F) The difficulty to adapt to new situations, people, work environment, is more common that people like to admit... 3_ Every person has some of those behaviours in some point of their lives.. The same happens with ¨pathologies¨

[@CurlyQueen12386]

I don’t think the team is necessarily mean to Reid. They treat him normally and there’s no hate behind their sass to him. And Reid never seems offended by them so he probably understands that they’re not actually being cruel towards him. It’s more like siblings bashing on each other.

[@xojiz8256]

i never realized it until now , i mean i feel like i should have bc my brother is autistic but then again i know they’re are different levels, but i can see that some of the ways spencer acts is the way my brother acts, i’m jealous in way of how smart a lot of autistic people are, like my little brother knew how to count by 8’s when he was 4 and i didn’t learn that until i was like 12😭 he amazes me just like how spencer amazes me .

[@reidshit_4514]

i've always thought that the others were a little mean towards him when he was talking to them about his interests/just saying random facts. like they were literally studying behaviour. cutting him off and stuff like that must've hurt him at least a little bit, and i hated it.

[@catcat9582]

I don't see why everyone wouldn't want more people like Spencer. He's gentle. Noble. Full of knowledge. I have wondered if I am on the spectrum but my favorite people seem to always have tism

[@jennifertochi6253]

My son has Aspergers and I can see so much of him in Spencer. Matthew does a wonderful job with this character.

[@maddie.bolland.7]

This was a really well put together video! Reid is so precious, I love him so much.

[@arion6852]

Hotch glares at her when she asks why Spencer knows how many boats there are

[@deadmonsterkitty]

As someone with Aspergers I can see a lot of what I struggle with and what I do in him.

[@_gr4ves_]

i also have an eidetic memory!! i think Spencer will forever be my favorite character because i see so much of myself in his character

[@user-oq6ol5fi2w]

....an eidetic memory has never been proven to exist

[@gachaeva7594]

Ried turned into badass in the star one

[@christina113704]

My brother has Aspergers. This is actually really quite accurate. 👍

[@tepesquincle]

It is no shame to be autistic. Doctor Reid is an excelent carachter, despiting his child trauma explained in the first episode, he is constantly struggling to interact functionally with the group around him. In fact most of childhood trauma are reflected with hyperarousal and hypermnesia in the adult age. Doctor Reid is an example how a special person can express his best intelligence under the appropriate circumstances. For me he is a valid ispiration under many circumstances of my daily life.

[@rainbeau9148]

Im not diagnosed but i show so many signs of autism and reid makes me feel normal

[@sydneyhunter660]

The “symptoms”(hate that word:) of Autism that Reid and I share: Do things without knowing(spinning:). Eye 👁 contact issues:). Bad with change:). Weird attachments:). Special interests(I have like literally thousands:). Talks without knowing if someone is actually interested:).

[@maythebookworm3891]

I hated how the team constantly made fun of Reid when he would start talking about facts or little tid bits of information and be like “please make him stop” like jeez

[@reallyneedsalife]

8:10 hurts me on so many levels mainly because people have said similar things to me, like "sorry for asking" or "okay we get it. I didn't even ask that". That and the rest of the team clearly heard and said bubkiss to Seaver about being an ass or to Spencer in general.

[@user-sh7em9ec9w]

For anyone not on the neurodiverse spectrum (or honestly a lot of mental disorders/illnesses in general), you may or may not have noticed that some of the things the teammates say seem passive aggressive when you take into account that these are symptoms of a neurological disorder. PLEASE try to keep in mind that peoples actions, habits and tendencies may 100% be a symptom of something, and you forcing them to do something out of their comfort zone (talk to a large crowd, make eye contact, physical contact) or teasing them about something (imitating tics while laughing [my sister does this, it hurts, and ruins my entire mood.]) could very much feel demeaning, and cruel to us. So please be as mindful as you can, and if someone seems confused or uncomfortable, try to help them out, without making them feel stupid, or making the situation worse. Thank you all ❤️

[@katherinemitchell7289]

I remember coming across this video a few years back when I was really into criminal minds. This video was what made me first realize I might be autistic. I was diagnosed around two years ago now, and am forever grateful for this video; it allowed me to understand myself in ways I didn't know were possible. Thank you.

[@LadyBowie1119]

At approx. 11mins when the example is motor skills and how happy Reid is by catching a ball, where is the voiceover by Hotch coming from? Was that episode like that? It's been awhile since I've seen the earlier seasons that I don't remember it.

[@darkhorseash4337]

its like the last episode of season 2, or maybe the second to last. its the one where he is profiling the team

[@lori6786]

@@darkhorseash4337 Oh thank you! I was wondering what ep this was too!

[@ngl3290]

If anything this just proves how great of an actor MGG is. Either he consciously makes these decisions/acting choices eg. the hand gestures and facial expressions, or he just has an innate sense of his character that he is able to act like Reid naturally, but either way very impressive

[@trinitymajzer6277]

i believe it was actually said that he is autistic in the show, i remember seeing it somewhere but don’t remember where

[@EmberRain666]

The episode you're thinking of is the clip at 11:36 The unsub is taunting everyone in the BAU, pointing out the "autistic leanings of the very insecure Dr. Reid".

[@sararas283]

11:33 i haven’t seen this season yet but i’m sorry that lady was rude just then “wElL hoW bOuT yOu” like shut up

[@james-cw1hm]

that’s alex blake, her and reid had almost a mother and son relationship in the show and she was such a sweetheart): she apologized to him for how insensitive the comment sounded and he said something about how he didn’t mind or whatever. she wasn’t being rude, she was just making a comment

[@tammycroft955]

I adore Spencer Reid and Admire and appreciate MGG for his portrayal of him. Asperger's runs in my family: my son was diagnosed while in preschool (whole long story there but he was originally formally diagnosed as retarded though all of us, including the doctor who made the diagnosis, knew he wasn't.), then I was diagnosed, then, after a five year battle to get him to go, my father was. It really hasn't made much of a difference in my life or my father's because we learned to cope a long time ago, but oh, the difference in my son's! It also helps that the school that just graduated him with Honors was on board with helping him achieve everything he could. David may be taking college courses on line next year and is looking forward to to working at the local Goodwill store. (He starts this week and they're looking forward to having him straighten out their accounting books--the manager who just walked without notice left them a mess, possibly deliberately, but they won't know for sure until after David's been working on them a few weeks.) Dad's still making jokes about "all the time and money spent getting David to Hershey because he wouldn't talk and now he won't shut up!" Yep, he went from completely silent when he started Head Start to babbling about anything that's caught his interest. You should hear him on the recent elections and getting to vote for the first time.

[@alexisnicolemiller]

Reid is my favorite character 😍❤️

[@CoxFam4eva]

Either way I love him.

[@nebulonicc]

I started watching criminal minds because my friend said Reid reminded them of me. A little while later I got an official diagnosis of Aspergers. I very much kin Reid

[@iloveplasticbottles]

I love how the show does a wink and a nudge to a really popular and well evidenced fan theory.

[@saniaazhmeebhuiyan2693]

i have my semester finals at 10am ,now its 9:10am...wtf am i doing hereeee?

[@cory99998]

I havent told my mom I think I'm autistic, but she told me that she watches this show and this character reminds her a lot of me. I haven't disclosed the autism and don't know if I will for a while, so it's nice to know that I can feel seen through this character. Struggles that are hard to communicate and for others to empathize with become much more accessible in story format with characters you care about.

[@micheleogle6036]

I’m late to the game on this video, but it’s quite interesting and well done. The linkage to such a well known genius character I feel destigmatizes autism in many ways. Not everyone is high functioning but it’s not entirely and vastly debilitating either. I have a few friends at work that are high functioning, I call them quirky and tell new people they have a process to how they address things. They are unique. Appreciate & respect that.

[@wilwatson5515]

In the episode “Rabid” Reid comments that he doesn’t like hospitals because it’s “something about the lighting” and that just reminds me of my own sensory issues with light sensitivity (especially fluorescents, like in hospitals)

[@cosmic_seabunny]

Wait, I thought this was obvious! I mean seriously even if the creators didn’t have him official he checks all the boxes so not having on the spectrum would have been..kinda a bit ableist. I absolutely love that he has so much compassion for the people he profiles and is always thinking about others, he’s one of the best representative’s of autism to people who have been called heartless or a robot. Like-NO B**** We’re just bad at expressing ourselves and reading ques but we very much do care for people!

[@jakenolan1917]

Wow. Matthew plays Dr. Reid absolutely flawlessly. Nobody else could pull off this role. Only person being close to being able to pull this role off would be Jim Parsons but he doesn't fit the FBI agent scene.

[@marielblanco7013]

I love him!! I also have Asperger and have a high IQ, I'm 30 years old and have always identified myself with him

[@spn_Deanz]

I got curious when this was recommended to me by yt. Im autistic and wanted to see if I had anything In common with Spence. And most of the things I also do myself and it makes me appreciate Spence more as I feel, I don't know connected? (Emotions are hard.) It is just nice to have a tv show character like me and one that is positive. So I guess I'm happy to have Spence on one of my favorite shows. Thanks for this video, it means a lot.

[@CelestialBug]

It's funny because this actually helped me to further figure out that I am most likely autistic. A lot of the examples given are ones that I can relate to and can apply to certain areas of my own life. I tend to have emotional attachments to characters that I can relate to as well, and Spencer is one of those characters.

[@xanrichardson8738]

The dyspraxia thing really hits home... when I was in highschool a teacher decided to do this quiz game where she would throw a ball around... i really wanted to answer the questions because i knew all the answers but I could never catch it and she made me stand infront of the class and threw the ball at me until I caught it ...after like 15 minutes she decided it was easier to just sit down and roll the ball for the game instead of throwing it... after class she told me I needed to learn how to catch the ball because a 14 year old should be able to she said catching a ball was something important just like riding a bike... boy was she shocked when I told her I can't ride a bike either

[@user-xw8ou8ro7b]

2:26 OMG the details of the body language!!! Matthew is amazing! Love from Libya❤

[@youwish175]

i know i'm super late to the video , but. does anyone know what episode the second to last clip is ? ( 11:35 )

[@KimowotaJP]

Why is everyone so toxic with him?

[@Random_Wierdo.]

Новороссия That’s the same thing I was thinking!! I mean I think Garcia is hell of annoying and naive and Hotch robotically creepy, so why are they so rude to Reid?

[@llawliet8109]

@@Random_Wierdo. I think its because they don't get what hes going though and they just want him to shut up but yeah its rude and I hate it I've been in the same position of being bullied and all that

[@llawliet8109]

Oh and this should answer both of your questions

[@kyraclark4494]

I agree with most of this video but I’d say that including 5:50 as an example is unfair because he’s not in his typical environment. Like he was in a doctors office with chronic stress headaches and was anticipating an MRI so it wouldn’t be an average situation. Maybe I’m wrong what would I know.

[@markhendrikx4424]

9:08 he doesn't like to touch /hands with strange or unknown people only people who he knows

[@kaeisokay]

I have ASD and I’m similar to that!

[@markhendrikx4424]

@@kaeisokay ah ok I like looking at people how they behave😊

[@rosemaryaaberg6311]

he really said it's autism awareness month y'all are about to be very aware

[@natberries000]

it makes me so mad when they get mad at him for talking. i think it’s adorable

[@wonderlustcoven45]

I have all these symtoms and I’m diagnosed with adhd/add my mother refuses to believe that I even have adhd “it’s just anxiety”she says I relate to Spencer Reid so much I cry when he gets and I can’t watch him when he gets into a uncomfortable situation

[@ummehanikhambata337]

Rossi's facial expressions when Reid's saying his joke is so funny

[@krystalpotato1012]

There is also an elevator scene I. The second episode I think when spencer was bobbing his head quite vigorously, that’s what prompted me to google a little bit more abt him

[@SOML98]

I binged watched the first 9 or 10 (maybe 11) seasons on Netflix and felt an immediate connection to Spency (my nickname for Him). I have ASPEGERS Syndrome and I fell in love with Him. I couldn’t watch season a lot of the episodes of season 12 because I felt very protective of Him and when they threw Him in jail I wanted to go through the screen and hurt them. Matthew Gray Gubler is a terrific actor and a cutie. Yes, I have a crush on Him. Ok, I’ll admit it, I LOVE HIM!!!!

[@LaZeeStuff]

This made sense, up until the part with JJ. She was quite literally being forced to take the job.

[@msab1483]

Also he explains why he doesn’t shake hands with strangers. He doesn’t like the transfer of all the germs. He is fine touching people he knows or children or when he’s doing his job. And he was 12 in high school. When would he have heard someone sing the Kissing song? Realistically. lol. That part just makes me sad for the childhood he never had.

[@SparkleCakezz]

What episode is the 2nd to last scene from??

[@yolandamortimer5415]

am i the only one who would be super interested in spencer rambling about star wars??

[@TheAngela160]

I suffer from social communication issues with people as well so this video is amazing at showing what people like me and people who have a form of autism goes through.

[@cunningwolf4516]

Everyone says im like reed I suppose it's because i have Aspburgers

[@kittycatkit3586]

I do almost all of these things but I don't have autism

[@cherrylipscrystalskys1767]

kittycat kit I'm just saying he fits the criteria! :)

[@kittycatkit3586]

+cherry lips crystal skys oh I know, I agree with you actually, I was just relating to,it

[@zcm007attack]

I do to and don't have autism either. I'd say autism isn't really an 'official' term. Just a simpler way of describing people who aren't the most socially proficient.

[@pinkypinky-jo8si]

kittycat kit me too I seen I do some of that stuff too but never told I have autism

[@alyssa6455]

Same here

[@idontwanna2553]

Is it bad that i always laugh at his joke about existentialists and lightbulb?

[@maturelydisapointingmember2699]

And yet hes so brilliant. I love Spence