12ĭuring Mozart’s lifetime, because autism was not formally described until over a century later 10. As is the case with other potentially autistic historical figures, it is impossible to determine today whether Mozart indeed fitted all of the diagnostic criteria for ASD or other forms of neurodiversity.
5 In addition to these habits, Mozart was known to have a peculiar conversational style, involving unrestrained, inappropriate comments and cyclical wording in written letters.Ī painting of Mozart composing the Overture for “Don Giovanni”, a piece he reportedly wrote in the span of a single evening.
He was also known to have a fickle attention span for tasks that did not interest him and often expressed his boredom in bursts of acrobatic physical activity. For instance, Mozart reportedly demonstrated repetitive hand motions and facial expressions. 3 Besides the moral implications of this practice with regards to neurodiversity, this viewpoint is laden with bitter irony:īiographical accounts of Mozart’s life, including the Oscar-winning film, Amadeus 4, have described the composer’s eccentric characteristics. Certain therapists have gone so far as to advocate the use of the Mozart Effect to “cure” autism. Recently, Mozart has also come to be associated with the field of psychopathology via the controversial “Mozart Effect” 2, a theory claiming that listening to the composer’s pieces enhances a variety of mental processes. A store window in Salzburg, Austria displaying Mozart chocolates and other merchandise.