difference between NT and autistic perseveration

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I tend to perseverate on things other people might consider odd, whether they are ordinary interests (such as cats and other animals) taken to degrees others consider extreme, or subjects unusual for somebody my age (such as Roger Bannister).

Nitro - I took that test and it said I was INTP - not sure what that is! And yes, odd psychology runs through both my and my wife's family. My dad's a raging, non-functional alcholic. My aunt's on disability for some unknown psychological problem (she's friendly, but nuts, apparently). My neice has ADHD. On my wife's side, my wife has a nephew with diagnosed Asperger's. She has a 40 year old brother who can't really function in society - he's in and out of jail, doesn't have a driver's license, doesn't have steady work - that sort of thing. It's no wonder my poor children have the problems they have!

ZanneMarie - that explains it a bit. When I get into hyper-focus and am obsessing, I can get to a point where I become unaware and unresponsive to mild external stimuli - my wife gets pissed because she'll try to get my attention and I won't hear her - but she thinks I'm intentionally ignoring her. It's caused a spat or two!

That said, I am aware when I'm in this mode, and can break away from it when I need to without distress and move on to whatever else needs tending to. The obsession might stay in the back of my mind, but I can certainly block it out and attend to other life's needs. I guess, It sounds like I have more concious control over it that you do, as an Aspie. I can choose when and where to obsess, am aware that I'm doing it, and can break away from it without much trouble.

You may not have the trait as bad. I feed into it. If I concentrated on it, I could stop it, but I don't want to, so I keep doing it. I also was indulged with it, even as a kid. I was allowed to write all the time in school because I always aced my tests and turned in all my work. I would say I was more inclined that way and just decided to take it to the extreme because I liked it. I think most of us like it. It makes us feel good - more relaxed, happy, etc.

Autistic spectrum conditions are likely polygenic, and it probably takes enough of these genes combined with prenatal conditions to trigger the development of the full autistic disorder or even Asperger's syndrome. This means even many NTs have a few autistic traits even if they're still definitively NeuroTypical. If you have relatives who have an autistic spectrum disorder, your chances of having these genes are increased.

Simon Baron-Cohen has found that people in engineering, mathematical, and physical scientific disciplines tend to score higher on his Autistic Quotient (AQ) test than people in some other disciplines.