@darkstarofchaos makes some super interesting, well backed-up points. However, to extend the discussion and, perhaps to play devilโs advocate, I would like to offer another perspective on this fascinating topic on my favourite character.
(Disclaimer: People are free to decide for themselves whether they want to interpret Starscreamโs behaviour as ADHD/autistic or not. Iโm just offering some arguments explaining my own reasoning for NOT interpreting Starscreamโs behaviour in this way, which some people might agree with, and others might not.)
Firstly, I think itโs important to mention a key issue with discussing mental health conditions diagnoses in this way, and that is the blur between what is a medical diagnosis of mental health issues, and personality.ย
There are 2 significant implicationsย involved with using mental health conditions in interpreting certain behaviours:
1) The personโs behaviours/mental states/thought processes have become, or are, to some degree, involuntary, orย something they cannot control or cope with in a healthy manner.ย
2) The person suffers in some way because they cannot voluntarily control their behaviours/mental states, whether they are affected by the mental states directly (e.g. anxiety, depression), or they suffer social/physical consequences due to their mental states (e.g. lack of motivation to feed yourself properly; social stigma and ostracisation from social groups because of behaviour)
Obviously, Starscream suffers from Megatronโs abuse, and sometimes the abuse of other Decepticons, for some of the things he says or does. The extent to which this affects hisย โeveryday functioningโ I think is pretty debatable, so Iโll leave that open to peopleโs imaginations.
If we consider only criteria 1 for now though, thenย I would argue that Starscreamโs behavioursย are intentionalย (e.g. openly criticising Megatronโs plans, loudly and aggressively talking to other people etc.). He is blatant and scathing towards Megatron because he actively hates him, and intentionallyย wants to make sure Megatron knows it - not because he doesnโt understand that he shouldnโt speak to his superior in this way, or that the way he speaks is aggravating to others. He speaks that way because he actively wants to hurt/threaten/insult/humiliate others, be it Megatron, his superior, or any other underling of his (e.g. Rumble, Skyfire, Skywarp and Thundercracker etc.)
I would also argue that his military ranking provides quite a strong, alternative explanation for his less empathetic behaviours. Because Starscream is a very importantย figure of authority in a strictly hierarchical environment,ย basically every other character he interacts with (outside of Megatron) is his underling, or an enemy. He knows his position, and his importance, outweighs those of the other Decepticons - so he simply doesnโt care about how they feel, or think, as long as they do what he tells them. While I certainly think he lacks empathy, I believe thereโs also an element of active disinterest in anything other than himself, or anything that does not further his own cause.ย
I also think this attitude extended itself naturally to Skyfire, because at that point he had had millions of yearsโ experience in being a military commander and the habit was likely hard to break (thatโs assuming he was different pre-war).ย Heโs not entirely, involuntarily unaware of othersโ discomforts and unhappiness around him. He justโฆ actively doesnโt care.
As for recognising the Stunticons as Autobots in disguise, as well as identifying Galvatron to be Megatron without any notable evidence to suggest otherwise, maybe this could also be interpreted as evidence of Starscreamโs sensitivity to otherโs behaviour.ย Because there is no indication, appearance wise, to lead him to the assumptions that he did, then he could only have reached the conclusions he did through observation of their behaviours, be it the way they spoke, behaved, or moved.ย An autist should otherwise be less susceptible to picking up these subtle cues and differences in behaviour, particularly if we assume the others around Starscream to be non-ASD, in which case, they should theoretically beย โbetterโ, and quicker, at picking up these differences before Starscream noticed.ย
It could also be because Starscream is an inherently suspicious and paranoid character, which leads him to making wild assumptions and leaps of logic (even if they actually turn out to be correct, because plot.)
(That, or the writers just couldnโt be bothered to give anyone else screen-time. #justiceforreflector.)
On a more technical squabble, I think itโs important to point out that the main characteristics of ASD/ADD which were addressed above only cover a very small selection of the actual criteria for both in the DSM-V or ICD-10/11. Although some symptoms/behaviours may be commonly associated with a particular condition, unless otherwise specified however (e.g. schizophrenia), displaying only 2 or 3 behaviours is usually not enough to warrant an official diagnosis. (For example, there is ample evidence highlighting Starscreamโs impulsivity. Hyperactivityโฆ Itโs hard to tell, granted, with the animation. And as for attention deficit, wellโฆ he doesnโt appear particularly inattentive, easily distracted, or careless/forgetful/disorganised). I do think some of the points (e.g. him reacting badly to being insulted, his interests in science, him being a soldier etc.) arenโt really that specific to ASD, but then again, G1 was pretty badly made, so thereโs lots of room to fill in the blanks with your imagination.ย
That said, although I study psychology, I donโt have autism (to my knowledge), or close friends who have been professional diagnosed (to my knowledge), so there is a lot I donโt know. Also, ASD is a very complex condition that is different for everyone, so itโs plausible to imagine Starscreamโs behaviours as how ASD has exhibited itself in him.
To summarise, G1 was pretty shoddy, so thereโs plenty of room to imagine Starscream as ASD, but also plenty of room to imagine him as a natural twat. His psychology is still fascinating to examine though, and I, too, have too much time on my hands.ย
