Are we problem solvers or not?

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Situations where I have to keep lots of information in my head simultaneously can be difficult, like in some sudokus or games like chess.
Technical problems are easier, one can usually out rule parts of the mechanism/program by bypassing it/turning it off/replacing it with something that is known to work.

/Mats

I am better at improvising than I am at planning and execution

I always thought the problem solver -thing meant that one is the type to think of and suggest solutions first and foremost instead of simply lending an ear when someone's complaining about something. As in, putting simple logic first by nature without automatically stopping to consider the feelings of the other person complaining first, which is something someone not having a problem solving nature would think first.

I'm pretty bad at problem solving when it comes to mechanical and emotional things.

As for "intellectual" things, I'm a little better.

Many Aspie/Autistics happen to be very good at problem solving in the mechanical sense.

There's the issue of some of us not knowing we can problem solve,or in what way. As a teen I was in crisis (as usual) and feeling worthless and my then-boyfriend said ---- not true, put together my bike (all the gears were off, and there were a lot). I protested - I had never done such a thing, it's one thing to put something together after taking it apart, but to put something together that I'd only every glanced at is another, plus I wasn't mechanical (after all I'm a "girl" ). He left and within whatever small period of time, I had put it together. Much to my surprise. Not his. I bet there are a lot of people who simply haven't had someone believe in them and/or been challenged. I have had successes like that, but I also have daily "failures". The general issue continues to plague me as an adult. I still don't have the confidence to ask for a challenge (or executive function to overcome obstacles) and so many of my skills are untapped. I hope to more fully blossom one day.

It is funny in the Myers Brigs Type Indicator (MBTI) there are 4 personality “preference” categories each with two possible (opposite) values each represented as a letter. 2 to the 4th power is 16. My type usually comes out to INTP some and all the other ?NT? Personality types are NTs. But on Wronplanet NT usually means Nurotypical - so I am not a NT. So I am an NT who is not an NT. In the MBTI NT stands for iNtuitive Thinker - intuitive got “N” instead of “I” because “I” was taken up by Introverted. The opposite of N is S which stands for Sensate. The N/S personality preference has to do with taking in information - S tends to like lists and doing things in order - learning things in order - the N tends to take in information scattershot - whole roomfuls at a time. The opposite of T is F. T/F is for the Thinkers v. Feelers - this one usually takes less explaining than N/S. There are a lot of NTs in IT (Information Technology) - That is the MBTI version of NT.

The MBTI is sometimes controversial but is also well documented and well correlated.


This is interesting:

http://oddlydevelopedtypes.com/content/ ... syndrome-0

Is it relevant - N types tend not to be problem solvers because the S types are all busy doing the “well known” day to day stuff and the Ns are better at the unexpected or atypical stuff.
If it was well known and expected it would be “on the list” and S types are all about those lists. Since it is a problem it probably isn’t on the list.

Perhaps MBTI is indicative as to how a person solves a problem, not if they do? For example, I find "ESTPs are logical problem solvers and fast thinkers. This outgoing, energetic personality type loves using common sense to find smarter ways of doing things, and they are the definition of inventive and resourceful". I am an ENFP which supposedly morphs into any other type more readily. Depending on the day I can test as I, S, and J, but rarely T. I am the "F" in IT, which needs more of those.

Above I said “N types tend not to be problem solvers” i intended to say “S types tend not to be problem solvers”.

Someone has already challenged my point of view here - but I at least wanted to get my original idea down as I saw it.

That being said…

It is also true that individuals and environments can change this.

I took a class on the history of science - it talked about “paradigm scientists” and “non-paradigm scientists” the paradigm scientists work within the existing model and make a los of progress solving a lot of “ordinary” or “by the book” type problems - there are a lot of them and they get a lot done - then there are the “non-paradigm scientists”. They come up with new and novel solutions to problems that the paradigm scientists cannot handle - the things the model doesn’t work for. These are the few who can come up with new models.

So which ones are the “problem solvers”? It depends.

I think this thread is also related to this topic:

● wrongplanet.net - Forums - What's The Differences Between NT Brains And Non-NT Brains

My MBTI type is ISTP. I first took the test at a law partners' retreat about 20 years ago as part of a larger self-evaluation exercise. I read my report and was astounded at how directly on point the assessment was of my personality, in particular as to how it informed my personal style of practicing law.

I took the test twice since then, the last time about four years ago, and have always scored ISTP.

Since then I received my ASD diagnosis, and now I wonder if I have an ISTP personality because of my autism.

Elon is the richest man in the world - except when Jeff Bazos passes him - they are kind of neck and neck sometimes it is one sometimes the other.

So he must have solved something - even if it is just how to lead geeks and make money.

Haters goina hate