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Looking for the name of a personality type / condition

 
 
 
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rousseau

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Since coming to FRDB / TF I've run into quite a few people who fit this bill, and I've since realized that this particular type of personality fits me. I'm wondering if there is a specific name or condition for it so I can look further into it.

A personality where a person:
- is very intelligent and skilled with abstract concepts
- has trouble making small-talk and discussing everyday minutiae, although can easily discuss 'big ideas'
- generally prefers intellectual and serious conversation over joking around, but still has a sense of humor

Not sure of any other specific traits, but hopefully that makes sense to some people here. For the last year or so I've figured it might just be classified as high functioning Asperger's, although I've had psychiatrists out-right tell me that's not the case.

Is there something else someone can point me to?
 
rousseau said:
Since coming to FRDB / TF I've run into quite a few people who fit this bill, and I've since realized that this particular type of personality fits me. I'm wondering if there is a specific name or condition for it so I can look further into it.

A personality where a person:
- is very intelligent and skilled with abstract concepts
- has trouble making small-talk and discussing everyday minutiae, although can easily discuss 'big ideas'
- generally prefers intellectual and serious conversation over joking around, but still has a sense of humor

Not sure of any other specific traits, but hopefully that makes sense to some people here. For the last year or so I've figured it might just be classified as high functioning Asperger's, although I've had psychiatrists out-right tell me that's not the case.

Is there something else someone can point me to?
Click to expand...

Well, that certainly doesn't sound like Aspergers.
 
Some quick searching on key-words turned up this:

http://lesswrong.com/lw/28l/do_you_have_highfunctioning_aspergers_syndrome/

What really gets me about the description in this link is that people with high IQ and asperger's symptoms tend to be able to compensate for social problems. That pretty much feels like what I'm doing all the time.

ETA: I don't want to say it's definitely that .. I just can't think of how else to describe it.
 
But the Asperger's social problems are specific and diagnostic:
from your link....


1.Severe impairment in reciprocal social interaction (at least two of the following)
(a) inability to interact with peers, (b) lack of desire to interact with peers, (c) lack of appreciation of social cues, (d) socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior

2.All-absorbing narrow interest (at least one of the following)
(a) exclusion of other activities, (b) repetitive adherence, (c) more rote than meaning

3.Imposition of routines and interests (at least one of the following)
(a) on self, in aspects of life (b) on others

4.Speech and language problems (at least three of the following)
(a) delayed development, (b) superficially perfect expressive language, (c) formal, pedantic language, (d) odd prosody, peculiar voice characteristics, (e) impairment of comprehension including misinterpretations of literal/implied meanings

5.Non-verbal communication problems (at least one of the following)
(a) limited use of gestures, (b) clumsy/gauche body language, (c) limited facial expression, (d) inappropriate expression, (e) peculiar, stiff gaze

6.Motor clumsiness

Notice it isn't a mere lack of desire for social interaction. And it has nothing to do with being bad at making small talk but fine at talking bout "big ideas." If you have Asperger's, you are generally poor at talking about anything with a neurotypical person.

Also, having a facility or preference for abstraction doesn't fit with any of the diagnostic criteria as far as I can tell. Indeed, Aspies tend to have very narrow interests.

Aspies tend to have problems with social interactions because they lack specific cognitive faculties relating to communication that are second-nature to neurotypical people.

Just because you have social problems doesn't mean you have Asperger's.

Let me be frank with you, rousseau, but have you ever considered that your social problems stem from more mundane personality defects, like arrogance? I don't mean to be a dick, but to me you have often come off as arrogant and even conceited.
 
J842P said:
But the Asperger's social problems are specific and diagnostic:
from your link....


1.Severe impairment in reciprocal social interaction (at least two of the following)
(a) inability to interact with peers, (b) lack of desire to interact with peers, (c) lack of appreciation of social cues, (d) socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior

2.All-absorbing narrow interest (at least one of the following)
(a) exclusion of other activities, (b) repetitive adherence, (c) more rote than meaning

3.Imposition of routines and interests (at least one of the following)
(a) on self, in aspects of life (b) on others

4.Speech and language problems (at least three of the following)
(a) delayed development, (b) superficially perfect expressive language, (c) formal, pedantic language, (d) odd prosody, peculiar voice characteristics, (e) impairment of comprehension including misinterpretations of literal/implied meanings

5.Non-verbal communication problems (at least one of the following)
(a) limited use of gestures, (b) clumsy/gauche body language, (c) limited facial expression, (d) inappropriate expression, (e) peculiar, stiff gaze

6.Motor clumsiness

Notice it isn't a mere lack of desire for social interaction. And it has nothing to do with being bad at making small talk but fine at talking bout "big ideas." If you have Asperger's, you are generally poor at talking about anything with a neurotypical person.

Also, having a facility or preference for abstraction doesn't fit with any of the diagnostic criteria as far as I can tell. Indeed, Aspies tend to have very narrow interests.

Aspies tend to have problems with social interactions because they lack specific cognitive faculties relating to communication that are second-nature to neurotypical people.

Just because you have social problems doesn't mean you have Asperger's.

Let me be frank with you, rousseau, but have you ever considered that your social problems stem from more mundane personality defects, like arrogance? I don't mean to be a dick, but to me you have often come off as arrogant and even conceited.
Click to expand...

Kind of, kind of not surprising (but interesting) that you'd say that. On Talk Freethought I'm not one for false modesty and usually just say things how I see them .. as I'm interested in expressing myself honestly and clearly. Probably something I need to work on, though, because clearly people just think I'm a conceited douche, as you're suggesting.

IRL I'm pretty sure I do have something of a superiority complex, but I do compensate for it and most of the time can manage pretty modest interaction with people.

So, is that my issue? It may be an issue, but I don't think it's THE issue I'm looking for. Maybe there is no issue at all and I've just become a super-introvert who wants to be by himself 90% of the time.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback, it's actually much appreciated.
 
As a side note, going back to the original characteristics I mentioned in the first post, I can remember discussing this type of thing with some other posters a while back.

One other poster who fit this bill was the old science mod that I modded with back in the day, Jesse. I don't know if he's around any more, but he was very similar. Seemingly ok social skills and very intelligent, but terrible at small-talk.
 
rousseau said:
A personality where a person:
- is very intelligent and skilled with abstract concepts
- has trouble making small-talk and discussing everyday minutiae, although can easily discuss 'big ideas'
- generally prefers intellectual and serious conversation over joking around, but still has a sense of humor
...
Is there something else someone can point me to?
Click to expand...
Assholes.
 
Have you considered 'eccentric introvert'?

I suggest that in a most complimentary way for I see nothing wrong in not being one of the 'sheeple'. :)
 
Under the Rose said:
Have you considered 'eccentric introvert'?

I suggest that in a most complimentary way for I see nothing wrong in not being one of the 'sheeple'. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply.

You could be right. Ever since the disruption of my bipolar diagnosis I have tended to pathologize myself, and have had trouble feeling 'normal'. Everything always has to be some kind of mental problem or defect. It doesn't help that finding a good psychiatrist to talk to is next to impossible in Canada.

Without trying to sound conceited, when I was growing up and in school I literally was head and shoulders above my peers and received accolades left and right. When you take the positive connotation off of what that means, it actually does set me far apart from the norm, so maybe it's not such a surprise that I feel so different all the time.

I do feel like, though, the personality I mention in the original post is a specific type.
 
rousseau said:
Under the Rose said:
Have you considered 'eccentric introvert'?

I suggest that in a most complimentary way for I see nothing wrong in not being one of the 'sheeple'. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply.

You could be right. Ever since the disruption of my bipolar diagnosis I have tended to pathologize myself, and have had trouble feeling 'normal'. Everything always has to be some kind of mental problem or defect. It doesn't help that finding a good psychiatrist to talk to is next to impossible in Canada.

Without trying to sound conceited, when I was growing up and in school I literally was head and shoulders above my peers and received accolades left and right. When you take the positive connotation off of what that means, it actually does set me far apart from the norm, so maybe it's not such a surprise that I feel so different all the time.

I do feel like, though, the personality I mention in the original post is a specific type.
Click to expand...

You got awards for being tall?
 
rosseau,

In my time on this forum, you have only struck me as being a polite, personable person. IRL, your personality traits may be different. I know that mine are. Everyone is different and rather than label yourself, embrace yourself.

I would give a lot to have the drive you have to better myself. To be myself. Unfortunately, I must be an outgoing person at work due to having to engage disengaged youngsters in an unfamiliar situation. You are now in a position where you can be exactly the person you want to be, and do what you want to do.

Who gives a flying rats ass if you dislike small-talk etc? Who doesn't? I hate it myself, but make myself do it, especially with strangers. It scares the jeeheebas out of me. I would much rather be by myself and left alone to do my job.

As I said, you are a nice person, and that is what is important. Instead of finding out, or trying to label what is 'wrong' with you, love yourself for who you are!
 
gmbteach said:
rosseau,

In my time on this forum, you have only struck me as being a polite, personable person. IRL, your personality traits may be different. I know that mine are. Everyone is different and rather than label yourself, embrace yourself.

I would give a lot to have the drive you have to better myself. To be myself. Unfortunately, I must be an outgoing person at work due to having to engage disengaged youngsters in an unfamiliar situation. You are now in a position where you can be exactly the person you want to be, and do what you want to do.

Who gives a flying rats ass if you dislike small-talk etc? Who doesn't? I hate it myself, but make myself do it, especially with strangers. It scares the jeeheebas out of me. I would much rather be by myself and left alone to do my job.

As I said, you are a nice person, and that is what is important. Instead of finding out, or trying to label what is 'wrong' with you, love yourself for who you are!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. :o

Truth be told, most of this stuff isn't much of a bother to me most of the time, but this week Daylights Savings time has done my head in and I've been a little wiry. When I started this thread I just got it in my head that there may be literal explanations for what I explained in the original post and I was interested in it to better understand that part of myself. Turns out it's just another aspect that's connected to introversion.

Despite feeling a little weird sometimes, I've got the understanding that there's nothing I can do but carry on, so I usually manage ok.
 
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