The diagnosis of ADHD has nothing to do with being "different than the standard 9-to-5-er." People with an attention disorder also don't "question the very fabric of society."
As for the historical people claimed to have ADHD, being brilliant and productive is not sufficient to diagnose someone.
This is hyperbole and wishful thinking with no facts or actual argument.
Those are not symptoms that diagnose those with ADHD, they're simply a proven byproduct of those who have been clinically diagnosed with ADHD.
Again, being brilliant and productive are not sufficient on their own, of course. Look at Da Vinci, for example. He wasn't just brilliant. He was notorious for beginning a multitude of projects, then dropping them when he got bored, a clear hallmark of ADD.
You can't diagnose someone through historical record alone.
I've known people with ADHD who were not brilliant or productive, and in fact had considerable difficulty getting anything done. I'd like to say you're confusing correlation with causation - which you are - but in this case I've never seen any support for the correlation.
Scott_s, I'm not sure how you can summarily dismiss something based on handful of people you know, without any real knowledge. If you don't want to check out the book, don't. There's plenty of the same info online. And the purpose of the entire article was just to point out that those who call ADHD a disorder is completely incorrect. And your argument is based on...your friends?
I'm dismissing what you've said based on my understanding of psychology. My anecdote was to demonstrate the existence of someone who does not adhere to your trend.
If you're going to claim ADHD is not a disorder, you need to make actual arguments. Analogies and gesturing at, but not citing, resources is not the same.
I don't claim to be an expert in psychology. What I'm suggesting here is not a theory of my own invention and has been cited numerous times by countless experts in the field.
My claim that ADHD is not a disorder is based upon:
1 - The fact that I have it.
2 - Psychological and scientific proof. See the book that I "cited" and others, such as The Gift of ADD for specifics. There's lots of of delightful information about the construction of the brain I'm sure would intrigue you.
3 - Simply psychology. People are afraid of those different and tend to classify them as rejects or somehow lacking. They attempt to make those that are different "fit" in a society tailor-made for people exactly not like them. People are afraid of things they don't understand.
As do I. Most people with ADHD have considerable difficulty getting anything done. Before you summarily dismiss something as hyperbole, I'd suggest you research it thoroughly. I just finished reading The Davinci Method (http://www.davincimethod.com/) - He explains it much better than I ever could.
Of course not. I was not indicating that those who drop projects have ADHD, I was simply indicating that it has been proven as a feature, if you will, in those who have been clinically diagnosed with ADHD.
As for the historical people claimed to have ADHD, being brilliant and productive is not sufficient to diagnose someone.
This is hyperbole and wishful thinking with no facts or actual argument.