Are we good at problem solving?

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I have always thought of myself as a good problem solver, but am I?

I love doing logic puzzles and solving things like that... And I tend to believe that I am exceptionally good at seeing connections between things in a way others cannot. Many connections, and in an instant.

Yet I read that aspies are very good at seeing details, but not good at the "big picture", and not so good at problem solving. I tend to notice details, but mainly ones that others don't notice. I always like to bring things to a "big picture" as I find it very helpful. And I tend to solve puzzles well, but often in a strange way.

Can anyone explain the link between AS and problem solving for me?

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Autistic_Survival_Guide

Those who look outward are dreaming, those who look within are awaken...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein's_brain

I have a theory for your talent. I consider my self lucky because I focused on math and physics till I was about 22 then I got duped a couple of times and started to try focusing on the big picture....I'm glad I have a chance to write this because I wanted to tell everyone who can point there obsessions like I can to point it a the big picture,problem solving or something that will develop useful skills. It's not that we can't see the big picture it's that we never think to think about the big picture. If someone focuses on buttons they will be a button expert right so the trick is to focus on things that will create useful skill sets. I just found out I may have traits that could put me on the spectrum so I don't know how easily people can change there observations or if it is even possible for them. I feel like I am very lucky I obsessed on problem solving I hope you feel the same way. I didn't realize it till a couple of months ago but I tend to look for autistic like behavior when I'm looking for a mentor because they know there topics so much more than a so called expert. I think an aspie pointed out my potential condition or I would never have looked it to it because most people think so little about most things that there opinion seems childish to me. I'm 48 now and I could design just about anything. I'm coming to the conclusion that there is still a higher purpose and that is being fulfilled all the problems have been pretty much solved it's the peaceful coexistence that really needs to be focused on in this world to really help with the big picture....I think I am still vulnerable to miss the big picture: for example I had an idea that saved the mold industry 20000/hour brilliant problem solving but I only got about 1000$ for it so I missed the opportunity I had to make money(the big picture). Thanks for the post. hey I got a problem for you how do you help people who obsess to direct there obsession in a direction that will improve there quality of life. When I work on these kinds of fulfilling problems I get to be me and feel like I'm helping with the big picture. Thanx take care

I think many Autistics and Aspies are excellent problem solvers. There have been times that I have been called upon the work out stubborn problems on computers and to a lesser extent other electronic and electrical things. I have done some problem solving on mechanical things as well.

I feel like we excel in problem solving over NTs. In the case of an NT when I was still in the work force, he was going to school to learn how to program computers and should have known so much more than me considering I never had that kind of computer training. But yet this guy was always coming around and asking me questions about computer programming. So what is this telling us?

True, I'm far from knowing everything and I don't act like I do telling people that they may have to ask someone who knows more than I do. Even in my own areas of expertise, I still have to ask questions sometimes. So not even Autistics and Aspies know everything about everything, but at least a person is better off coming to one of us when it comes to problem solving.

I know there are a lot of very intelligent Autistics and Aspies on here where problem solving would be quite easy for them.

I'd agree that Autistics and Aspies seem to be excellent problem solvers and not just because of our obsessions and generally high intellect. The career I do is 50% problem solving and I've often found that due to my ability to assimilate and combine data I'm often included in/called to lead investigation groups. My biggest fault is not in actually seeing the big picture it is in solving the problem 'I've been asked' to solve. (A good example would be I was asked how to reduce the number of errors, on site, to a minimum, and to only state the most effective. My answer close the site, I was told off because of that answer).

My old boss used to say 'I don't know whether your our biggest asset or our biggest liability' (he was laughing at the time) and 'we should send you out with an instruction manual' as he'd worked out that my main problem was how others 'used me as a resource' i.e. providing sloppy questions, bad/incomplete data or only taking part of my recommendations (as they knew better, or they were odd (In one case I suggested they work on it at lunch time and take an cheese/onion and and an egg/cress sandwich into the office, to work on the solution i came up with, they ignored me and the solution failed. When they blamed me and said I should pay more attention to solutions than food. I asked did the production supervisor help (shares there office, technically out ranks them) turns out he helped and had to 'compromised with him' to improve the solution. When I pointed out that the supervisor hates the smell of egg and especially raw onion and that they were to 'persuade' him to go out to the pub for lunch (Friday do would be 2 beers and a mixed grill (His boss would be so it would be 1.5-2hrs lunch plus travel and so leave them alone, as they could/would not ask/tell him not to help.

I believe the thing you read is nonsense.

From what I've been told by others, I'm very good at figuring out solutions to mechanical problems. Many times someone asks me to help them with something and I can look at it and figure out a few solutions right away.

I don't know how many times they've said "How the hell did you do that so fast?" I think it's because I may have a good subconscious understanding of physics and how things work and I can visualize things very clearly in my mind.

I am excellent at solving problems. I can fix almost anything and I am also frequently asked to solve people's personal problems too. At work, my opinion is well regarded and I have had to solve complicated problems above my pay grade more than a few times. One time, I was even asked to talk to the local newspaper as the store's spokesman because the manager knew he was irrational (bipolar with severe anger issues....yeah... we got along great. ) and I was the only one there who was well spoken and level headed enough to make us look good in a bad situation.

I'm an excellent problem solver. My issue is that for reasons unknown (either my poor communication skills or general ignorace) few listen to my solutions and make the same mistakes over and over again. When you point out those mistakes and why they won't work, you're seen as being arrogant or a whiner. Can't win! Co-workers will often say that you don't have to worry about these errors as it's not your money but who gets called to help clean them up and do things properly? Yours truly!

INTPs with experience are often seen as the "gurus" of their professions. ( source: http://www.personalitypage.com/INTP_per.html )

I am not an INTP, I'm an INTJ, but rather close to INTx and can relate to some of the personality traits mentioned for INTPs. I tend to become the go-to guy at work aswell. My last job was working with some assembling machines with a computer interface. Whenever anyone met some problems they hadn't encountered before, I could usually solve them. And the next time they got the exact same problem, they came to me again. >.< What is annoying is that when you become the go-to guy, all the co-workers know it, but the bosses don't show appretiation because your own productivity goes down while you are helping others.

I'm not so sure it is an Aspie trait, it's more of a personality trait, but then again many speculate that all INTJs are Aspies, so the difference might be smaller than we think.

I was in kind of a situation like that at one place I worked. After becoming a Robot Operator no one could figure out why the wires on the robot arm's electrical strips continued to come off consider the wires were fastened in a way so they didn't move. I kept trying to tell them that the wires were to small to carry that amount of current and they just didn't believe me until that really got old. So they let me solder those same wires back on noting my work as I operated the Robot. I told them as long as they don't put heavier wires on that the the same wires I soldered on would burn off. Well I was right and I proven my point. They put heavier wires on and never had anymore problems with the robot. What's so funny is the engineer didn't even believe me until I did prove my point. But, then I'm an Advance Class Amatuer Radio Operator who has build kits and other electronic things being familiar with the size of wires and how much current they can handle. I think the reason I had such a hard time convincing them that the wires were too small is because men think that women and in my case with poor communication skills, are dumbasses when it comes to electronics.

yeah, I'm great at problem solving, as long as it's not too big.
If I have to manage large groups of people or too many variables, I get flustered and aggravated.

Motorcycles, car engines, hunting gear, physics, small scale chemistry (beer brewing), cooking, and stuff like that is no problem.

unfortunately, not every difficulty in life can be framed as a "problem"--though i seem to never tire of trying to do so.
still, i have also collected quotes such as Jung's "Life is not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be experienced." (Also, Rilke ditto.)
then i go back to solving the part of it that can be solved.

No don't think so. My problem solving is like wanna be macgyver. Like unclogging toilet with soda bottle or stupid stuff like that

No.........I suck

Yes but....

Almost all of my problem solving
is done subconsciously.

I'm used to telling people
"I can't think flat on my feet",
meaning I don't make
quick decisions.

It seems that I always
have to send a mental memo
to the problem solving dept,
and hope they (we, me?)
have been paying attention.

I picture them with
a continuously overflowing inbox,
so response time
is usually measured in days,
not minutes.

I've gotten used to
their plodding ways,
but still find them reliable.