What is neurodiversity, really?

Neurodiversity is a term that was introduced in the late 1990s by Judy Singer, an Australian sociologist who is herself on the autism spectrum. The idea is that people naturally differ in how they perceive, think, feel and behave. Neurodiversity describes that variation in the whole population. Think of society as a large orchestra in which each instrument plays its own melody. The diversity of all those instruments together makes the music.

The idea is that variations in neurological and psychological development are natural and valuable, and should not be seen as deviations that need to be corrected. Everyone has their own unique combination of strengths and weaknesses, and that makes us all special.

Neurodiversity or neurodivergence?

Neurodiversity is a property of a group: the natural variation between people. So a person cannot be neurodiverse, just as a person cannot be biodiverse. For the individual there is the word neurodivergent. That is someone whose development, in the interplay between psyche and nervous system, clearly differs from what counts as neurotypical in a particular environment. That is relative and situational: with the right adjustments, the same pattern falls within the norm in another context. Neurodivergent is not a diagnosis and not a fixed label. Someone who is closer to the average is called neurotypical. There is no hard boundary between neurodivergent and neurotypical.

What does that mean in practice?

Imagine going to a concert where each instrument plays a different part. Some people have a strong ability to concentrate, while others may be better at coming up with creative solutions. We are all diverse in how we respond to the world around us. This can show in things such as how we learn, adapt, communicate and deal with others.

This diversity in how we function is not something we can put into boxes. It is not a matter of having it or not having it, as with your blood group. Everyone has, to a greater or lesser degree, characteristics that differ from the average. That is why it is hard to say who is or is not neurodivergent. It is about gradations, not boxes.

Why is it important to understand this?

By recognising that neurodiversity exists and that everyone is unique in their neurological and psychological development, we can better understand how people function. This helps us to have empathy and to support each other. Instead of trying to put everyone in the same box, we can value what makes each individual unique.

It is also important to recognise that traditional diagnoses such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia and other labels are only one way of looking at neurodiversity. These labels can be useful, but they do not always cover what is going on. Neurodiversity looks beyond these labels and sees the full breadth of human variation.

How do you recognise neurodivergence in yourself or someone else?

It can sometimes be a search to discover whether you are neurodivergent. Many people only discover this later in life, often when they run into challenges or feel different from others. Signs can be, for example, that you become overstimulated in busy environments, that you communicate differently or are extremely creative, that you experience emotions more intensely, or that a great deal comes in unfiltered.

It is important to know that there is no ready-made answer. Everyone has their own unique mix of characteristics, and that is what makes neurodiversity so fascinating.

What can you do?

If you think you are neurodivergent, or if you know someone who is, it is important to offer understanding and support. There are many ways of dealing with this, and sometimes professional help can be useful. But simply talking with others, learning about neurodiversity and accepting yourself as you are, are important steps too.

At PsychosisNet we want to offer a place where you can find reliable information. Neurodiversity is an important subject that affects us all, and by talking about it we can create a more inclusive world together.

Thank you for reading, and remember: everyone has their own unique melody to play in the great orchestra of life!

Would you like to map your own profile? Try Check your neurodiversity profile.

Prof. dr. Jim van Os, Chair Division Neuroscience, Utrecht University Medical Centre. Jim works at the interface of ‘hard’ brain science, health services research, art and subjective experiences of people with ‘lived experience’ in mental healthcare. 

Jim has been appearing on the Thomson-Reuter Web of Science list of ‘most influential scientific minds of our time’ since 2014. In 2014 he published his book ‘Beyond DSM-5‘, and in 2016 the book ‘Good Mental Health Care’. In 2026 he published 'Wat psychisch lijden is'.

Want to read more?

Blogs by Jim van Os can be read here

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