normal behavior in their culture. They are simply unconcerned by society's disapproval of their habits or beliefs. Some eccentrics are pejoratively considered "cranks" rather than geniuses. Eccentric behavior is often considered whimsical or quirky, although it can also be strange and disturbing. Many individuals previously considered merely eccentric, such as aviation magnate Howard Hughes, have recently been retrospectively diagnosed as actually having had mental disorders (obsessive–compulsive disorder in Hughes' case). Other people may have an eccentric taste in clothes, or eccentric hobbies or collections they pursue with great vigor. They may have a pedantic and precise manner of speaking, intermingled with inventive wordplay. Many of these behaviors share the characteristics of someone with an autistic spectrum disorder, such as the eccentric hobbies or the pedantic speech. Many individuals may even manifest eccentricities consciously and deliberately in an attempt to differentiate themselves from societal norms or enhance a sense of inimitable identity. Given the overwhelmingly positive stereotypes (at least in popular culture and especially with fictional characters) often associated with eccentricity, as detailed above, certain individuals seek to be associated with this sort of character type. However, this is not always successful as eccentric individuals are not necessarily charismatic and the individual in question may simply be dismissed by others as just seeking attention. Characteristics Psychologist David Weeks believes people with a mental illness suffer from their behavior, while eccentrics are quite happy. He even states eccentrics are less prone to mental illness than everyone else. According to Weeks' study, there are several distinctive characteristics that often differentiate a healthy eccentric person from a regular person or someone who has a mental illness. The first five characteristics on Weeks' list are found in most people regarded as eccentric: Nonconforming Creative Strongly motivated by curiosity Happily obsessed with one or more hobbyhorses (usually five or six) Aware from early childhood that they are different Intelligent Opinionated and outspoken Noncompetitive, not in need of reassurance or reinforcement from society Unusual in their eating habits and living arrangements Not particularly interested in the opinions or company of other people Possessed of a mischievous sense of humor See also Asperger syndrome Byronic hero Cults of personality in Turkmenistan Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou Foolishness for Christ Idiosyncrasy Individualism Keep Austin Weird Obsessive–compulsive disorder Personality psychology Schizotypal personality disorder Thinking outside the box References Human behavior Deviance (sociology) Stereotypes