Bryan Kohberger's Connection to Asperger's Syndrome

Bryan Kohberger and Asperger's Syndrome

The name Bryan Kohberger has become well-known in recent months after the 28-year-old was arrested and charged with the brutal murders of four University of Idaho students in November 2022. With intense public interest in the horrific case came scrutiny into Kohberger's background and psychology, including a reported diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome.

Asperger's syndrome is a developmental disorder on the autism spectrum. It is characterized by difficulties with social interaction, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. Unlike classic autism, people with Asperger's usually have average or above average intelligence and typical or advanced language development.

While Kohberger has not publicly confirmed an Asperger's diagnosis, several news outlets have reported that he told people he had the condition. So what exactly is Asperger's syndrome, and what connection could it have to crimes like the Idaho murders Kohberger is accused of?

Understanding Asperger's Syndrome

Asperger's syndrome was first described in the 1940s by Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger, who noticed a pattern of behaviors in some of his young patients. Here are some key things to know about the developmental disorder:

• It involves difficulties with social interactions and communication, such as not understanding social cues or body language, inability to read emotions and intentions, and challenges with back-and-forth conversation.
• People with Asperger's often have very restricted, intense interests. They may collect volumes of detailed information about topics that interest them.
• They tend to thrive on routine and feel uncomfortable with change. They may develop ritualized patterns of behavior.
• Many have sensory issues, such as sensitivity to light, sound, or touch.
• Though it often occurs alongside ADHD, anxiety, and depression, intelligence and language ability are usually normal to advanced.
• It occurs more often in males. Estimates range from 2 to 7 per 10,000 people having Asperger's.

Despite the social and communication challenges, many people with Asperger's have above average intelligence and abilities. Some believe the intense interests and focus on detail enables many to excel in fields like science, math, music, and computing.

Famous People with Asperger's Syndrome

In fact, some highly acclaimed innovators and creators throughout history are believed to have had Asperger's syndrome. Here are a few examples:

• Albert Einstein - The legendary physicist who developed the theory of relativity displayed many Asperger's traits including intense focus on certain subjects, strict routines, and social awkwardness.
• Stanley Kubrick - The prolific filmmaker behind movies like A Clockwork Orange and 2001: A Space Odyssey was obsessively focused on his craft and known for a detached directing style.
• Tim Burton - The imaginative movie director has said he felt alienated and "misunderstood" as a child, common feelings among people on the autism spectrum.
• Sir Anthony Hopkins - The actor only received an Asperger's diagnosis in his 70s. He said it helped explain his intensity, need for solitude, and early feelings of being an outsider.
• Courtney Love - The famous musician has publicly discussed being diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome along with ADHD.
• Dan Aykroyd - The actor/comedian revealed that he has Asperger's and Tourette syndrome. He believes symptoms help fuel his creativity.
• Susan Boyle - The singer who burst into fame on Britain's Got Talent was diagnosed with Asperger's in 2013. She said it helped her explain feeling "different" growing up.

While the high-profile examples are mostly celebrities, people with Asperger's make valuable contributions across many fields. Their intense focus, loyalty, and originality are assets. The technology industry has been a particularly welcoming environment for those on the spectrum.

How is Asperger's Treated and Managed?

There is no cure for Asperger's syndrome, which is viewed as a lifelong condition. But various treatments and therapies can improve quality of life dramatically. These include:

• Behavioral therapy - Social skills training helps people better understand things like conversation, emotional cues, controlling emotions and reading non-verbal communication.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) - Helps manage anxiety, anger and depression that often accompany Asperger's.
• Speech therapy - Improves verbal communication abilities for those who struggle with speech patterns.
• Parent education - Provides parents and family members with strategies for structure and behavioral management.
• Social support groups - Connects people and families affected by Asperger's for support.
• Medications - May be prescribed to treat co-occurring conditions like depression, anxiety, OCD or ADHD.
• Dietary changes - Some find elimination diets helpful for managing sensory issues. Common restrictions include gluten, casein, soy, and processed foods.

With support and intervention, people with Asperger's can lead happy and fulfilled lives. Many learn to effectively manage their challenges and thrive in environments suited to their strengths and interests.

Asperger's and Violent Crime

In light of the horrific crimes Bryan Kohberger is accused of, questions have arisen around whether his reported Asperger's diagnosis could be linked to violent tendencies. The simple answer is no - there is no direct correlation between Asperger's syndrome and violent crime.

In fact, research shows that individuals with autism spectrum disorders are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. Some key points on Asperger's and criminal behavior:

• Being socially naïve leaves them more vulnerable to being manipulated or exploited by others.
• Difficulty perceiving social cues or intentions makes them prone to being bullied.
• Meltdowns related to sensory overload or change can be mistaken as threatening.
• A strong sense of justice could lead them to inadvertently get involved in criminal acts.
• Obsessive interests could theoretically result in stalking or harassment behaviors.

But most experts agree that having Asperger's does not directly equate to an increased risk of planned violent crimes like murder, rape or assault. The psychology of a violent criminal involves many complex factors beyond just a developmental disorder.

Misconceptions of Link to Violence

There are some common misconceptions that Asperger's syndrome is associated with criminality and violence:

• Past categorization as a "mild" form of autism led some to associate it with the mental deficiencies seen in violent offenders.
• Lack of demonstrated empathy can be misunderstood as lack of empathy.
• Social disconnect and obsession with details reminiscent of profiling done of serial killers.
• Historical links drawn by some between autism and schizophrenia or psychopathy.
• A few heavily-reported cases of violence involving people with Asperger's.

However, most autism experts and psychological research contradict these misconceptions. Some key points that counter them include:

• No link found between autism disorders and lack of empathy, morality or violence.
• Theory that obsessions generate expertise, not violent tendencies.
• People with Asperger's are far more law-abiding on average.
• Social issues do not indicate antisocial leanings or lack of compassion.
• No causal link between autism spectrum disorders and psychopathy or criminal thinking.

While every case is individual, the vast majority of people with Asperger's aim to lead constructive, meaningful lives. They are much more likely to be victims of manipulation than calculating criminals themselves.

Autism Spectrum and Motivation for Violence

That being said, there are always exceptions. In extremely rare cases, individuals with autism or Asperger's have committed heinous acts of violence. This indicates their disorder may have interacted with other risk factors that motivated violence. Some possibilities in these outlier cases include:

• Being manipulated by others through a naivete of intents or desires.
• A warped sense of vigilante justice related to intense interests.
• Deep feelings of rejection related to social difficulties.
• Lashing out due to severe bullying or trauma suffered.
• A delusional disorder or psychosis develops separately from their autism spectrum disorder.

However, it is misleading to suggest Asperger's itself leads to violent tendencies. More accurately, it indicates a vulnerability that criminals can exploit to manipulate them into violence in extremely rare cases. Any violent act reflects the coming together of multiple factors in someone's psychology.

Does Bryan Kohberger Have Asperger's Syndrome?

With Bryan Kohberger accused of a remarkably horrific and brutal crime, the question arises whether Asperger's syndrome played any role. Information is still limited, but here is what is currently known:

• Media reports claim Kohberger told acquaintances over the years he had Asperger's, but this remains unconfirmed.
• No diagnosis is noted in any public records thus far released.
• Both the defense and prosecution have retained psychology experts, potentially to assess Kohberger's mental state.
• Investigators are reportedly looking into whether Kohberger was manipulated or influenced by others.
• Experts say that while possible in theory, it's exceedingly rare for someone with Asperger's to plan acts of violence like the murders.

The defense would likely raise Asperger's as a mitigating factor if Kohberger is convicted. However, successfully linking it to diminished culpability for such an apparently deliberate crime would be challenging. Ultimately, any role Asperger's may or may not have played cannot be determined definitively without more details on Kohberger himself.

Kohberger's Background

Here are some key details known so far about Bryan Kohberger's background:

• He was born in Pennsylvania in 1994.
• He graduated from Northampton Community College before transferring to DeSales University where he completed his bachelor's degree in 2020.
• Kohberger was pursuing a Ph.D in criminology from Washington State University at the time of his arrest.
• He traveled across the country to visit family for the holidays shortly after the Idaho murders.
• He has no substantial criminal record beyond a citation for illegal camping several years ago.

Investigators are still piecing together a profile of Kohberger, including his psychological state, relationships, and activities around the time of the murders. Whether he receives any formal diagnosis as part of the legal proceedings remains to be seen.

The Idaho Murder Case

Here is a brief overview of the horrific murders Kohberger stands accused of:

• Four University of Idaho students were found brutally stabbed to death in a rental home near campus on November 13, 2022.
• The victims were Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. They were close friends.
• Goncalves and Mogen were found on the second floor while Kernodle and Chapin were on the third floor.
• Two surviving roommates were home but did not hear the attacks taking place.
• The murder weapon has not been recovered though believed to be a fixed-blade knife.
• Investigators claim the attack was targeted but maintain the victims did not know the killer.

On December 30, 2022, authorities arrested Kohberger in Pennsylvania. He agreed to extradition to Idaho and is facing four counts of first-degree murder along with felony burglary charges. He has yet to enter a plea and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The Verdict

While questions remain about Bryan Kohberger's mental state, having Asperger's syndrome alone does not predispose someone to violence. The psychological underpinnings that drive violent crimes like murder are multifaceted. Childhood environment, neurological hardwiring, personality traits, and experiences all shape an individual's risk for criminality. For the tiny fraction of people with Asperger's who do commit terrible acts, their developmental disorder likely interacts with these other influences rather than directly causing their behavior. In truth, society still has much to learn about what really leads anyone down a dark path toward horrific violence.

The reporting on Kohberger's unconfirmed Asperger's diagnosis provides an opportunity to better understand and differentiate the disorder. Most living with it face social challenges but are exceptionally bright, creative, and moral citizens who enrich the world. Assuming those affected by autism spectrum disorders are prone to violence further stigmatizes millions of innocent people. While the legal system will determine accountability in this case, unjust stereotypes serve no one in the challenging journey ahead.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.