Personality Types

[71 dB]

Your score was 17 out of a possible 50.

Scores in the 0-25 range indicate few or no Autistic traits.

Interesting!

[DavidW]

Your score was 17 out of a possible 50.

Scores in the 0-25 range indicate few or no Autistic traits.

I scored exactly the same!

[Cato]

For example the question

9. I am fascinated by dates.

I think this is something for @Cato 's Grammar Grumble Thread. Shouldn't it be data rather than dates?   

Yes, "data" for bits of information.  "Dates" is the plural for calendar days and for the fruit!    

[71 dB]

I scored exactly the same!

Most people are neurotypical (hence the name!) meaning they'll score 25 or less in this kind of tests. The rules and conventions of social interaction are for the most part set up by neurotypical people for whom these rules are not a huge burden, but for us autistic people these rules can be brutal. My brain cannot process a complex social situation almost at all. Making eye contact is unpleasant (almost hurts). On the other hand neurotypicals have a feel of uncanny valley when dealing with an autistic person, because this person seems "almost human", kind of very human robot.

What makes things worse is how little people understand autism. Even I as an autistic person understand these things only now at age 53! I always thought autistic people are IQ-50 savants with a specific supertalent, but unable to communicate verbally or functioning in society. That's how autistic people are always portrayed in movies etc. However, autism is a spectrum. My autism is somewhat mild and not always apparent. I can interact socially with ONE person almost as well as neurotypicals, but when it is about more people, my brain tilts because it can't perform the multitasking required. Autistic people concentrate (deeply) on one thing at the time.

That's why I am so frustrated and depressed. The game is rigged against me. You neurotypicals can't understand me so you won't. Sure, I can't understand neurotypicals any better, but at least the game is rigged for neurotypicals so they don't suffer from it.   

[Florestan]

That's why I am so frustrated and depressed. The game is rigged against me. You neurotypicals can't understand me so you won't. Sure, I can't understand neurotypicals any better, but at least the game is rigged for neurotypicals so they don't suffer from it.   

If I had taken the test in my late teens / early 20s I'd have scored much higher because back then I was much more shy, introverted and socially awkward, preferring the company of books to that of people. I have changed a lot since then and nowadays I am adjusted just fine to my environment and to the world at large. The only regret I have is that I didn't acquire a brawler spirit, because there are moments when I really feel like punching and kicking the jerks that come my way. 

[DavidW]

If I had taken the test in my late teens / early 20s I'd have scored much higher because back then I was much more shy, introverted and socially awkward, preferring the company of books to that of people.

That is because that online test is for fun, it is garbage.  Not an official diagnostic that has to be completed be a professional.  Just being an introvert doesn't put one on the spectrum. 

[DavidW]

You neurotypicals can't understand me so you won't.   

I think you seriously lack faith in humanity.  Do your friends and family honestly have no empathy for you?  And on what basis do you classify yourself anyway?  An online test?  I'm sorry but it sounds like you're looking for excuses to feel sorry for yourself.  If you truly are neuro-divergent, counseling can help you relate to others and help build social skills.  I've known plenty of people that ACTUALLY ARE, as in diagnosed, and with care of wellness counselors and psychiatrists live a fulfilling life.

[Florestan]

That is because that online test is for fun, it is garbage.  Not an official diagnostic that has to be completed be a professional.  Just being an introvert doesn't put one on the spectrum. 

Of course I took the test for fun only, I'm well aware such online tests are anything but scientifically accurate and have only an entertainment value.

[71 dB]

I think you seriously lack faith in humanity.

Can you look at what happens in the World and have faith in humanity? Good for you!

Do your friends and family honestly have no empathy for you?

They do, but autistic people don't have many friends to begin with.

And on what basis do you classify yourself anyway?  An online test?

I have known for a few years now to have autistic traits. The test was to have some sort of picture about how strong these traits are. According to the test I am 40/50. That's close to how I feel myself about my autistic traits. No big surprises here.

I'm sorry but it sounds like you're looking for excuses to feel sorry for yourself.  If you truly are neuro-divergent, counseling can help you relate to others and help build social skills. I've known plenty of people that ACTUALLY ARE, as in diagnosed, and with care of wellness counselors and psychiatrists live a fulfilling life.

I think Finland is a developing country when it comes to these things. One time I sent an email to an autism society and never got an email back. Also, why do I need to build social skills, when what I need is a society that recognises some people don't have those skills. Just as not all people are good at math.

[71 dB]

I took this free online autism spectrum test: https://www.idrlabs.com/autism-spectrum/test.php

According to this test, my autism spectrum symptoms are moderate. Nothing surprising about that. That's what I have figured. My autism spectrum looks like this according to this test:

[greg]

I did that autism test, too.
And a few others, which are kinda in a an ambiguous zone- like, above average but not high enough to definitely point to autism.

btw if anyone has ever done any collages before (or original artwork might even be sufficient sometimes), you can share them and I can take a guess at your type in enneagram, and expanded instincts system.

there seems to be somewhat consistent patterns that have emerged, though of course it's not a 100% thing. Quite a few times now I have looked at someone's collage and they either end up getting typed that way, or, I send them to read the description and it does resonate with them.

[71 dB]

School/high-school
I am clearly more talented in math and physics than my classmates while struggling in some other studies, especially languages (English, Swedish). After high-school it felt obvious to have a career in science/engineering. I had strong self-image in this respect.

University
I am not the best in math anymore. 1/3 of the studying mates are better. I started to doubt my abilities. I begun to worry about not being "good enough."

Work
Some aspect of my work seemed to suite for me, but there were unexpected aspects that I didn't like at all. There was way too much competition. I HATE competition. I don't want to compete with anyone! I just want to do my job.

My forties
My sister says she thinks I have Asperger's. I didn't know what it was. I looked it up online and realized a lot of the traits fits me very well! I had always felt different, but now it looked like it wasn't just a feeling, but I really was different compared to "normal" people.

My fifties
I get interested off personality types, MBTI, because I want to understand better why my life is how it is. Finally I end up being an INTJ. The jobs suitable for INTJs are exactly what I have been pursuing. So, why hasn't things worked for me? I was perplexed. Meanwhile I realize Asperger's isn't used anymore and I am just on the Autism spectrum instead. I have been watching Youtube videos by autistic people and I can relate. My autism is on the milder side, but I struggle with many things autistic people struggle with including work. So that is the answer it seem. I never had a shot in the science/engineering field because of autism. I build my life on false premise.

[ritter]

School/high-school
... while struggling in some other studies, especially languages (English, Swedish).

But obviously you've overcome that problem, Poju. Your command of the English language (written, at least) is impressive (says another non-native English speaker).

Best,

[DavidW]

University
I am not the best in math anymore. 1/3 of the studying mates are better. I started to doubt my abilities. I begun to worry about not being "good enough."

I also experienced that when I went from being the top dog in high school to being the middle of the pack in college. However, I didn't interpret it the way you did. I took it as a sign that I was with my peers and in the right place.

[71 dB]

But obviously you've overcome that problem, Poju. Your command of the English language (written, at least) is impressive (says another non-native English speaker).

Best,

Thanks!

Yes, I have overcome my English difficulties. Ironically I started to learn English much better during my university studies (Electric engineering), because a lot of the study material such as textbooks were in English (some in Swedish and some in Finnish). Also, the internet makes the life so "English", but there was no internet back the 80s when I was in high-school. Thanks to the internet and social media, millennials and Gen Zers are quite fluent in English at young age, but we Gen Xers didn't have that in our childhood.

As for my Swedish skills, they are not that great because I hardly ever need to use that language.

I also experienced that when I went from being the top dog in high school to being the middle of the pack in college. However, I didn't interpret it the way you did. I took it as a sign that I was with my peers and in the right place.

I didn't feel I am in the wrong place. My self-image was build on being "the top dog" in high-school and that suffered a blow when I lost the "top dog" status. This alone wasn't a big problem. The problem was the cumulation of negative experiencies in life in much bigger quantities than positive ones. My self-confidence weakened bit by bit and one day I found myself questioning if I am good enough for anything...

being autistic explains a lot. Autistic people are prone to experience a lot of negative things while trying to navigate the world tailored for neurotypical people.

 

[greg]

being autistic explains a lot. Autistic people are prone to experience a lot of negative things while trying to navigate the world tailored for neurotypical people.

have you ever taken the RAADS-R?
I just took that one yesterday and was surprisingly high, scored what is considered the mean score for autistic people.

but I don't have the most typical issues that I've always heard associated with autism.
the ones I relate to are lesser known traits.

soooo idk, maybe you can still be neurotypical and have a high score. Or maybe I'm being too generous in my yes's to the questions.

[71 dB]

have you ever taken the RAADS-R?

No, but thanks for the suggestion!

I just took that one yesterday and was surprisingly high, scored what is considered the mean score for autistic people.

but I don't have the most typical issues that I've always heard associated with autism.
the ones I relate to are lesser known traits.

soooo idk, maybe you can still be neurotypical and have a high score. Or maybe I'm being too generous in my yes's to the questions.

I have recently watched Youtube videos by autistic people. Someone said the simplest way to tell if you are autistic is to answer the question: "Have you felt like an alien all you life?" Neurotypicals don't feel like aliens because they live mostly among other neurotypicals. We autistic people do feel like aliens because we are a small minority whose brains work differently.

Every autistic person is different just as every neurotypical person is different. My autism seems to be on the milder side. I am socially clumsy, but social situations are "just" unpleasant and energy consuming for me. I don't have panic attacks or tantrums because of other people. I just suck in social situations. I don't have severe sensory problems, but I seem to have some issues compared to neurotypicals. I don't know how much I mask. I need to think about it.

I'm at the point were it is time to figure out how to live my life as an autistic person. How to cope with this World tailored for neurotypicals? I figured out being autistic at quite old age. My life could have made so much more sense had I realised this decades ago, but I knew nothing about autism. I thought autism is VERY rare and that autistic people are always low functioning. Only when I read about Asperger's did I realise there is high functioning autism and that something like 1 in 40 men are autistic.

[Florestan]

Unless and until you are diagnosed by a psychiatrist you cannot assume anything, Poju. The tests you take are not proffessional and thus are highly unreliable.

Mere social clumsiness does not eșuate with autism.
 

[greg]

I have recently watched Youtube videos by autistic people. Someone said the simplest way to tell if you are autistic is to answer the question: "Have you felt like an alien all you life?"

Well... probably all autistic people feel like aliens, but I'm sure there's also a lot of non-autistic people that also feel alien, for whatever reason.

So, I'd only use that as a potential entry point.

I thought autism is VERY rare and that autistic people are always low functioning. Only when I read about Asperger's did I realise there is high functioning autism and that something like 1 in 40 men are autistic.

Yeah... it's kinda a weird thing, because sometimes it's so obvious that someone is autistic, yet others just aren't as obvious so it doesn't even feel like the same thing.

So making as many labels and categories as possible is always a good thing, otherwise you will be lost at how to explain yourself to others.


...


A big difference may be the feeling of dying at stuff that is considered generally unpleasant yet tolerable to most people...

It's always voice complaints -> "well no one likes it either" (but they can manage)-> how is that supposed to be comforting? dead end, still feels like dying -> voice complaints, endless loop

which has always felt like a clue that something is off.
and wondering what disorder I might have.

[Florestan]

probably all autistic people feel like aliens, but I'm sure there's also a lot of non-autistic people that also feel alien, for whatever reason.

You are not a psychiatrist, Greg --- as such, your are in no position, and have no qualification whatsoever, to make such blanket statements. You'd better refrain from doing it, not in the least because what you say obviously influences another person, equally layman.

I repeat: unless and until a professional, accredited psychiatrist diagnoses you or anyone else, whatever you think or feel is just baseless assumption.