Does anyone else think partially in shapes? How common

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JWS
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03 Aug 2014, 8:01 pm

I was wondering how common it is to think partially in shapes? All comments on this subject are very welcome! :D


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Norny
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03 Aug 2014, 9:54 pm

In terms of global population, incredibly rare, but if only considering autism, perhaps less rare, but still not overly prevalent.


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Jensen
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04 Aug 2014, 4:20 pm

Do you mean thinking half way in pictures? If so, Yes.


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05 Aug 2014, 1:09 pm

Visual / spatial thinking is known to occur within the autistic population. I think that way.

I suggest you find and rent the HBO movie "Temple Grandin" starring Claire Danes. Temple Grandin is autistic and thinks visually and the movie does a good job at showing how this is for her. You might find the movie is something you can relate to.


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JWS
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07 Aug 2014, 3:52 pm

In my own case, I think in words, pictures, shapes, and feelings, anyway. There may be more, but I am unsure....
I believe the ability to think in pictures is super! :D I am glad I think in pictures quite a lot, too. That ability helps me to "map out" unfamiliar areas, and easily remember familiar ones. It would seem that thinking in shapes and feelings is rarer than I thought!..... 8O
I already own the movie/ documentary "Temple Grandin", and have watched it a lot, studying various scenes shown to learn more about picture- thinking.....INTERESTING!!


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Jensen
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08 Aug 2014, 4:27 am

Yes, Grandin describes it so well. In my earliest search for AS signs, I watched her "Thinking in pictures" and thought "HEY, I know that".
It is one of the advantages of being very concrete!, - a typical aspie trait.


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JWS
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08 Aug 2014, 9:57 am

No doubt, Jensen. No doubt! :D


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08 Aug 2014, 2:53 pm

Could someone please tell me what "thinking in pictures" is, so I can know if I do this?

Thanks, ahead of time!

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08 Aug 2014, 4:13 pm

Cat, thinking in pictures just means that you think using pictures or movies of your life and experiences, instead of words, or other expressions.
I, myself, think mostly in pictures and shapes with feelings- less often in words. I actually talked with my counselor, today (for the last time. She's going home to care for her aging mother. She will be sorely missed! :cry: ), and she gave me this update on my condition: "You have Autism Spectrum Disorder, level mild, with a sprinkling of Synesthesia." VERY interesting way of diagnosing me! :-D Apparently, I have traits of Synesthesia, but am not overloaded with it. Nice, personalized diagnosis! 8)


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09 Aug 2014, 12:16 pm

Well, here's the way, maybe, I should've asked.....

When I'm speaking to someone, for instance, about a prior conversation we've had, I can picture in my mind where we were when we were having the conversation, where we were positioned in the room, what I was wearing, etc. Is THAT what you're talking about? I've "heard" Temple Grandin talking about "thinking in pictures"; but, for some reason, I was picturing a "picture book", and I thought THAT'S what she meant. I didn't make the connection, for some reason.

I'm so sorry your doctor is leaving. I know it can really stink. I also find that diagnosis interesting, to say the least.



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09 Aug 2014, 2:08 pm

Campin_Cat, you DO think in pictures! The description you just gave of your thought processes confirms that you think in pictures. Temple Grandin thinks very much the way you do. Maybe exactly the same. :-)


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09 Aug 2014, 8:19 pm

The very concrete way: 1. She pictures the parts of a project taking form, 2. coming together, and THEN 3. she can take measures.
My neighbour 1. form an idea, 2. take measures and 3. construct.


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10 Aug 2014, 2:10 am

I was just diagnosed two years ago and have not yet found out everything about my Aspergers but I do know I have always thought in pictures.



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10 Aug 2014, 3:07 am

True, perkulator. Many autistics think in pictures- some ONLY in pictures!
My thought- patterns are partly in pictures, and partly otherwise...


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10 Aug 2014, 11:11 am

JWS wrote:
Campin_Cat, you DO think in pictures! The description you just gave of your thought processes confirms that you think in pictures. Temple Grandin thinks very much the way you do. Maybe exactly the same.



WOW, that is so very cool that I just learned something new about myself!! ! I assumed EVERYBODY thought that way----I can't imagine how they wouldn't! ! The only time I picture words, is if I'm picturing the magazine, for instance, in which I saw the words. An example is, when I was a little kid, I always aced spelling tests because I could picture the book lying-open on the kitchen table, and I could see the words in the book.

Now, as for shapes.....

The only thing I can think-of, here, is....

Like, when I'm planning a crochet pattern, for example....

Let's say a baby's cardigan.....

I picture the length / placement of each panel, the placement of the buttons, where, on the neck, I would put the ribbon, through.....

I don't know if that "counts" as "thinking in shapes".....

Or, what about....

When I think about setting-up my train set, I envision the shape / placement of the track (?).

What do you think, JWS?





Last edited by Campin_Cat on 10 Aug 2014, 11:20 am, edited 1 time in total.

GrandTuringSedan
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10 Aug 2014, 11:49 am

I think in pictures, in a way. On the left side of my visual field, when considering an idea, especially a dynamic, a graphic picture of the moving parts of this idea will form. It isn't symbolic, per se. It is more of an intuitively generated, monochromatic, two dimensional, somewhat mechanistic representation of the idea. It's certainly visual, but I think it might have an element of synesthesia. I don't know much about the nature of this thing, but that's how I would describe it.

Also, if I can't think of the name of an object, I will picture it and the name of the thing will appear in black and white lettering under it. I can then just read the name of the thing. Mostly objects, sometimes abstracts.