Big picture or detail oriented?

Post Reply New Topic

There always seems to be such a stereotype about autistics being detail obsessed, to the point of not caring about anything beyond those fine details. I can be VERY detail focused, but there always has to be a "big picture" perspective for me to even engage with a topic/situation/relationship/anything at all. If there is no big picture, no overreaching function/purpose or point, no merit, no goal or outcome, I can't focus at all. I suck at performing menial tasks for their own sake. This is problematic in surprisingly every way - apparently there is a lot in life that there is no reason for whatsoever. Same with following instructions. I must understand why before I can obey.
Anyone else with a perspective on this dichotomy?

Sounds fairly normal. As you say, stereotypes can be very misleading; best to ignore them.

I focus so much on the big picture of my main goal that I skip over the details necessary to get there.