“Einstein would probably be in an autism program today” | Temple Grandin for Big Think+

Dr. Temple Grandin shares how we can unlock the hidden gifts of neurodivergent minds.
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There are three types of thinkers. Which one are you?
Temple Grandin, author and professor of animal science at Colorado State University, recognized early in her life that her mind worked differently from those of her peers and colleagues. As a neurodivergent woman in a male-dominated field, Dr. Grandin reveals how this different way of thinking led to groundbreaking advancements in the cattle industry.
According to Grandin, there’s a major problem with the modern day overgeneralization of the word “autism.” Those diagnosed are put in one single category with no distinction between each specific case, ultimately preventing neurodivergent people from discovering their passions and contributing their unique perspectives to society.
The best way to approach this problem, says Grandin, is to understand the 3 most common types of thinkers: visual thinkers like herself, pattern thinkers, and word thinkers. If educators and employers consider these different types of minds, they can create environments that maximize each individual’s intellectual strengths. By embracing this diversity, we together can build a society where every person has access to success; where everyone has the education, employment, and lifestyles that will help them thrive.
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About Temple Grandin:
Dr. Temple Grandin is a renowned scientist, author, and advocate for individuals with autism and animal welfare. Grandin was diagnosed with autism at a young age, and despite facing significant challenges due to her condition, she persevered and went on to become one of the most prominent voices in the autism community.
Grandin's unique perspective as a person with autism has greatly influenced her work in animal science and husbandry. She is widely recognized for her innovations in the design of livestock handling facilities, which have revolutionized the industry by emphasizing the importance of humane treatment of animals. Her groundbreaking work has earned her numerous awards and accolades, including being named one of TIME magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2010.
In addition to her contributions to animal welfare, Grandin is also an accomplished author, having written several books on animal behavior and her own experiences living with autism. Through her writing and public speaking engagements, she has become a leading advocate for individuals on the autism spectrum, promoting awareness, acceptance, and understanding of neurodiversity.
Grandin holds a Ph.D. in Animal Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is currently a professor at Colorado State University. Her work continues to inspire countless individuals around the world, challenging stereotypes and championing the rights of both animals and people with autism.

[@nerd26373]

Autism has stigma around it. Everyone has divided opinions on it. But by the end of the day, autistic people are still people. But they kinda just see the world in different lenses.

[@JoyFay]

@@wayneunited59hello bully 😡

[@enzolumare5680]

@@wayneunited59wtf?

[@emyustory]

NOT all autistic people are still people. I'm an alien from another world! And I do move around a little.

[@enzolumare5680]

@@emyustory 😳

[@sageofsixpaths98]

But doctors give them meds to keep them asleep so we don't get another Einstein.

[@racecarrik]

She's probably the smartest, most genuine person they've had on. Everything she says is based off observation and logic, wonderful lady.

[@miselfis]

I am a theoretical physicist and I also have autism (and ADHD as well). What made Einstein such a great physicist was exactly that he was a very visual thinker. We was able to just close his eyes and just visualize the problem as thought experients and then eventually reach a conclusion. His icredible intuition and ability to visualize made him able to understand space and time itself as a 4 dimensional manifold which can be manipulated like a fabric. This very intuitive and visual approach later became an issue for him when quantum mechanics started being the main focus. He was not able to visualize quantum physics in the same way, since there is this inherent undeterministic property. He wasn't fond of the idea that there existed true randomness in the universe because he couldn't visualize it the same way, he famously stated "God does not play dice with the universe". I myself am both a visual and pattern thinker. I see patterns everywhere that most people don't seem to notice, even when pointed out. I am also good at visualizing images. In high school when I was bored in class I would often just watch a movie in my head. My memories are also purely visual. I have a bit of synesthesia so I even remember songs and different conversations as intricate visual patterns or colours and emotions. This also makes me very good at detecting musical notes and scales and it's easier to compare two images than two sounds and I also play a lot of different instruments. It's weird how different our brains are. A lot of the differences also seem to be discrete, which makes me wonder if it has something to do just with random mutations in the genes controlling neurological structure, or it is evolutionary and genetic. I also wonder if you can learn to think in a visual way if you're more of a verbal thinker and vice versa since the brain is so plastic. I am not a neurobiologist so I haven't the faintest idea, but definitely interesting to think about.

[@ronlacker326]

Einstein was a scientific and intellectual fraud. He plagiarized many, if not most of his work of the backs of his contemporaries. The only reason he gets so much credit today is really because he was a Jew.

[@JabubMontoya]

That’s cool. What kind of theoretical physicist are you. What kind of stuff you do.

[@_sansvisage]

It could be possible considering the brain is plastic, maybe if you start training from a young age it could happen

[@miselfis]

@@JabubMontoya I’ve done a lot of research in string theory, especially looking into how it fits with ER=EPR, equating quantum entanglement with Einstein-Rosen bridges. Right now I spend most of my time with cosmology, I’m especially interested in Sir Penrose’s cyclical model of cosmology.

[@Taksheel]

I have ADHD too and I'm doing an integrated master's in physics, I'm on my second year right now and kind of struggling with revising any tips from one ADHD person to another?

[@pegahhaghshomar8009]

I'm an autistic woman looking for a job and getting rejected constantly in HR interviews for more than a year. This video gave me some hope

[@cryora]

Companies will feel the pain of their poor hiring decisions soon enough, just saying.

[@TruthBounty]

Don’t say you have autism. Autism, ADHD, OCD, its all in the brain. It’s all Trauma. Read Scattered Minds By Gabor Mate. Understand it and then use it as a weapon - you’ll then get a job.

[@pegahhaghshomar8009]

Nicely said, like Microsoft did a couple of years ago with some failed products

[@Kage-jk4pj]

​@cryora the most obvious cope I've ever seen

[@cryora]

@@Kage-jk4pj Was Theoden's speech just before the charge of the Rohirrim at the Pelennor Fields cope?

[@roel3377]

I've been diagnosed with ADD and social anxiety, and I COMPLETELY agree with the idea to change the standard procedure for job interviews. Let people try the job for just one week. It has pros for both parties. The boss sees if the person fits well enough with the job. And the worker gets a sniff of the work-place, see if he/she likes it. They may even learn new work-experience. Obviously this doesn't just work everywhere. Some jobs are to risky to let random people try them. But I think this'll be possible for many small jobs. Idk im tired and dont know what im typing anymore (sorry for bad englush😊

[@Chris47368]

Nah - Your English is just fine! The only spelling mistake ironically is in your last sentence where you said "Englush"....but that kinda adds character into your comment - so keep it in! 👍

[@shadowscp1391]

Well said!

[@Oysters176]

Well said. I also propose Cooking and Farming Jobs to be easier to initiate, primarily to increase home-skills and be involved with the community.

[@dahleno2014]

That’s nice and all, but in technical jobs you often can’t do anything the first week (maybe month(s)) because you have no idea what you are doing.

[@roising.3221]

I agree... If the week is paid.

[@ustherein]

I struggled so much in high school, too unconventional for that atmosphere. Now I’m in a college that caters towards neurodivergent people and my mental health has improved so much and I feel like I’m actually tapping into my potential for once

[@Sada-xg9ew]

What the difference between yours and a regular college?

[@ustherein]

@@Sada-xg9ew schools not necessarily different, but the student body has way more neurodivergent people, and are heavily accommodated. I’ve gotten so much help resource wise than I did in my earlier years of schooling

[@Cheliabee]

this gives me some hope. Had to go online because the public high school experience was BRUTAL i made 0 friends and i couldn’t handle the environment so im hoping college will be different

[@DonaldAMisc]

Labels are an EXPLANATION, not a DESTINATION. I was diagnosed with Asperger's in middle school, and I'm also critical of the DSM's oversimplification grouping Asperger's into Autism Spectrum Disorder. It muddys the water for the laymen distinguishing who needs lots of care and supervision from those like me who are independent, self sufficient, and live a happy life on their own. Most people don't even guess my diagnosis unless I tell them! 😅

[@sageofsixpaths98]

Everything is a disorder in DSM. It doesn't consider Porn as addiction though, it's laughable. Then they teach believers why they shouldn't be orthodox for a single Book.

[@AdeleiTeillana]

Agreed. I also have Asperger's and I've always felt like the collapse of all the different diagnoses to "Autism Spectrum Disorder" is almost an insult to the people who really struggle and their families. My cousin was nonverbal and had severe issues and it felt like I was making light of what he and his family went through to say that I'm autistic. I've lived on my own, I moved to China and worked with orphans, I've been a supervisor and manager at various jobs, and I'm now about to graduate from a top law school. It's not fair to people like my cousin to just say I'm autistic and leave it at that.

[@LameBushido]

There are ASD levels to differentiate.

[@DonaldAMisc]

​​@@AdeleiTeillanaThanks for sharing your story Adelei! Your example is a perfect illustration why I find the name change problematic, takes focus away from those who need the most help. 🙌

[@architech5940]

I work for a 5 star restaurant part time while earning my degree in computer science, minor probability and statistics. After I got hired, I naturally had difficulty dealing with customers, but everything from cooking to handling inventory, keeping track of losses etc. I did pretty well with. I had no choice but to tell my boss that I have an Asperger's diagnosis from grade school and that's why I get stifled around people. I thought this would most likely lead to a demotion of some sort considering the restaurant is 5 stars and they may not want a 'liability' there, but my boss is currently training me as a part time shift manager. I'm still not good with CSR, but it turns out managing people is a hidden talent that I didn't know I had, moreover, I'm discovering that management is not the same as CSR or casual conversation with a person. I'm good at telling people what to do and organizing a team effort.

[@fredabery3816]

Temple Grandin, along with many other exceptional and exceptionally talented neurodiverse folks is why I studied neuroscience 20 years ago. What a legend of education and research. Thanks for this interview- marvelous.

[@garrybrown3165]

Dr. Grandin, you are my hero. As a radiation oncologist I also think in pictures. I recall reading about you struggles and determination to learn going through an automatic door, a great metaphor. Your perseverance inspired me to keep taking the board exam, my "automatic door". Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[@realbobbyaxel]

I love your comment.

[@siedmy]

Where is the bottom of the heart?

[@garrybrown3165]

@@siedmy The left ventricle is typically the inferior most part of cardiac anatomy. The heart in most people is slightly to the left of the center of the chest between the lungs, anterior to the esophagus and above the diaphragm.♥

[@RechtmanDon]

Dr. Grandin, I'm a variant of the verbalizers: Born and raised in the USA, English is my second language; music is my first language! You see pictures; I hear music. Any object or thought or person I perceive has its own music, and I can improvise that music at the moment. I still have that silent spoken voice in my head, but I also have my music voice constantly speaking to me. When I attended an Aspie meeting, I asked if I should get a formal diagnosis. They asked me if I was gainfully employed, which I was at the time (a technical writer); they advised I avoid the formal diagnosis if I wished to keep my job. Consequently, my Asperger label is self-inflicted, but it complements my long history of behavioral traits. I wear it proudly.

[@sageofsixpaths98]

Im a Visual thinker and a Verbaliser too, think aloud

[@AuntieMamies]

I used to babysit a kid with Asperger's and he was a genius. 9 yrs old and he was definitely one of the smartest people I've ever met.

[@melvin6228]

Thinking in music is very familiar to me as well. I did it since age 4. I don't think she's right that there are just 3 types of thinkers with their combinations. However, it could be that the other types are tougher to understand (e.g. thinking in music).

[@Anonymous-yh4ol]

This comment reminded me of the late musical genius... Michael Jackson. And how much he was misunderstood.

[@sterlingarcher1962]

Thinking in music, what a beautiful thing!!! I'm 48 late diag ASD and I've been learning a lot about myself over the last couple of years. My brain is a sht storm of constant thoughts streaming with about 9 to 11 or 12 feeds at a time. It's quite tiring if I'm honest. I only finished the 5th grade before my adolescence became focused on my homelessness at the time. Eating and finding decent places to sleep was most of concern. But, when life provided me the opportunity to do something I was able to get a few books at the time and taught myself electrical and computer engineering with some fluid dynamics. I honestly never thought anything of it, I always saw myself as stupid given I never even made it to middle school. I ended up designing some pretty high-end computers systems that won a bunch of awards from media publications such as CNET. I stopped working 7 years ago when I was 41 as I don't need more money. I've turned out pretty okay I guess given what I'm dealing with but work on improving daily. It's wild to think how different my brain is, I see people admiring some things but it can be a real struggle. I often can't stop talking once I start though I prefer no interactions. I can get spun out pretty easy if I'm in a loud place or somewhere chaotic and I don't sleep much, maybe 4 hours a night or 5 sometimes. I often wish it would stop as the idea of a minute or two of silence in my head seems pretty nice, Since reading your post all I can think about is having music in my head instead, it seems wonderful. But I have a question, if everyone carries a tune for you; is being around the same person a lot like having an annoying song stuck in your head?

[@KhevinMituti]

I love Temple. Every time she talks or writes I feel deeply connected to what she is saying. Such a beautiful and positive mind

[@DomDomTheFirst]

I got my autistic and adhd diagnosis 2 years ago at the age of 35. Everything fell into place, it made sense. I've subsequently been 2 years sober and lost over 50 kg in weight! Best thing that ever happened to me, knowing who I was. I was called crazy as a child because I had visual thoughts and an internal monologue. So glad I know now 😊✌️

[@voodooranger1]

50kg! You literally excised an entire person from yourself. The bad influencer person.

[@charmelos1431]

Most people have an internal monologue.

[@LotusSparx]

Did those results happen just from finding out your diagnosis or a result of something else after you found out?

[@Hollyucinogen]

Almost everybody has an internal monologue, genius. I highly doubt that anybody made fun of you for experiencing something that almost everybody experiences.

[@DomDomTheFirst]

@@Hollyucinogen when I was four I didn't know the term internal monologue existed so when I said to the teacher "the voices in my head" they didn't immediately talk to me about internal monologues or mental health, they just slapped crazy across my head. Growing up in the 80's in Wales people didn't have the mental health awareness we have now. Now I know I have an internal monologue but from the age of three I was dubbed crazy because I used the wrong language. I wonder how many other teenagers get slapped as crazy when they say "voice in my head" instead of "internal monologue". ✌️

[@Alex-js5lg]

I remember marking a classmate's Asian geography exam in grade 7... he got 6% (3 of 50 countries or capitals). Not long after this, he explained to our science teacher how a four-stroke engine runs and what the different systems in a passenger car do (fan, coolant, air intake, fuel injectors, spark plugs, etc). That really opened my eyes and mind to the idea that intelligence doesn't always transfer across domains, and being intelligent =/= being informed.

[@Andygr_]

As an ABA therapist, I’ve realized I was autistic and my parents had no clue. I didn’t talk till 3 and hadn’t experienced “emotions” until now as. 25 year old.Luckily I picked up music and I taught myself how to play the guitar, drums and bass. I’ll be going into the IT field this year to finally give school another shot. I’ve realized as well how much I love learning!

[@kristopherleslie8343]

I believe everyone is autistic

[@bober1019]

do you mean you are IN ABA therapy? also stay away from IT work if you ARE already a therapist. getting change for a dollar makes absolute no sense what so ever...but hey if you can afford switching careers, why not.

[@Andygr_]

@@bober1019 im an ABA therapist. As in I help the children with autism. And unfortunately ABA companies here in the states are awful to work with unless you’re a BCBA, which takes minimum 5 years to get to. Low hours and losing clients out of blue do a number to the change we barely get as it is. So something more consistent is needed for me, thus IT.

[@bober1019]

@Andygr_ I would have though that working in health care in the states,since its all private, that the money would be better. I'm in Canada. Unless you are some maga crazy, you are more than welcome to take a crack at it here.

[@nameyname1447]

@@Andygr_ Thats awesome you are going into IT! What exactly are you going for?

[@TheFirstManticore]

It is recognized by many that late talkers are often just analytical thinkers. The majority grow up to be engineers or accountants; a significant number go into music. So if you have a 3-year-old who doesn't speak in sentences yet, but understands what you say and communicates pretty well nonverbally, there is no cause to worry.

[@Kevinmiller835]

Depends

[@Bvggerffpls]

I can relate to so many things described in this video. In particular, my struggle to overcome the hurdle of the traditional job interview. I fly through the psychometrics, and I have no issue with task based assessments. The isuue is when someone asks me to "explain a time when you had had to do X, Y and Z". I become a stuttering mess. It's so frustrating because I am intelligent, I have two degrees, and I perform unusually well in other aspects of my life. I just can't seem to crack the performative ritual that is the competency-based interview. It feels like I've been locked out of society. Thankfully, i managed to get some provisional offers on graduate schemes related to my field. This was after wasting a year working in a hotel.

[@sageofsixpaths98]

Same here, those interviews feel very artificial and pointless. Same goes with therapy and counselling, you can't stop cringing.

[@monicarenee7949]

I had the same challenge until I got trained on interviews. Now I have to prepare my answers ahead of time and rehearse them for hours. I’ve gotten good at interviews but it’s all an act and soon as I get an unanticipated question I fumble

[@q8386]

First time I've come across Temple Grandin - wow, what a great communicator, and thinker.

[@carolsteve29]

I've watched Dr. Grandin's career for years. No nonsense! Authentic! Good stuff! We need to do better; as parents, teachers, and people. Let's raise each other!😅❤🙏

[@alexb372]

4th type of thinker: Metaphysical. These are able to construct images and scenarios in their mind in a lucid-dream-like state. Game theorists, musicians, CEO's, etc. Playing 10 hours of video games per day for the purpose of amusement and fun, does not help anyone. Some games are skills within themselves (mostly eSports) that allow people to grasp what a really difficult learning curve is. Then, upon the realization that they're capable of really doing what they set their mind to (learned while somewhat enjoying themselves because it's a video game, not "boring" advanced calculus) they can then learn to apply the same learning strategy that they already have experience in, to go on into other very difficult skills/fields. While I'm very appreciative of the insights Dr Temple Grandin has shared with society, the problem with old age is the reduction in neuroplasticity not allowing her to understand the connections of new frameworks. She's an absolute genius when it comes to animal psychology, but she doesn't fully understand the complexities of the mind and it's different self-or-externally-imposed frameworks. I don't know if anyone can say with certainty that they do yet, and in old age we become more certain of the framework that's been reinforced in our minds our entire lives. The core of the difference between her and most other people, is neurodiversity compounded with animal empathy. Even if she isn't a crying mess every time a cow is slaughtered, she has the part of empathy that allows her to set her mind in an animal's framework. It's a misconception that empathy = sympathy and the "perceived suffering then imposes suffering on oneself." Empathy is simply thinking from another consciousnesses' point of view, without interjecting your own point of view into it. "I'm going to think like this person, while imagining I'm walking in their shoes" is empathy. "I'm thinking in my mental framework, while imagining I'm walking in their shoes" is not empathy.

[@cryora]

It doesn't have to be an eSport to have value in it. For some games, it's about the immersion or the creativity. There are games with strong simulation or sandbox aspects that you can learn skills that are applicable to real life, not just learning how to learn. The downside is that the effort you put in builds your character's wealth in-game, but doesn't build your own wealth in real life.

[@TruthBounty]

You mean imagination? This is the norm. I don’t have this as I cant see in my mind.

[@alexb372]

@@cryora You're right. Factorio is also a big one.

[@alexb372]

@@TruthBounty "imagination" kind of covers all the above types of thinking, but it's a somewhat generalized term in this topic.

[@bigplantpapi]

WOW, thank you Dr. Grandin... hello from Colombia! I'm buying your book today... Every single word you said resonated so much with me, and l just want to say you are an absolutely smart and incredible human being. Your vision should be shared with everyone, and especially anyone struggling with mental health issues. 9 months ago I found myself without a job - yet again - and very confused about the way my mind worked. After some personal research I discovered I was neurodivergent too, and a few months later in therapy my diagnosis was confirmed as ADHD. THANKS TO YOU and your research I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders today; I can't expect myself to perform as a verbalizer because I am both an object and a spatial visualizer. This video is everything I needed and MORE... Thank you BIG THINK.

[@joelharris4399]

We find ourselves going through life having to brush off, even to defy expectations, ignore categories and labels others try to slap on us, sometimes in their rabid ignorance, sometimes to keep us grounded, instead of airborne so we won't reach our full potential. And sadly, a lot of times experiences like these take place in the learning environment, in schools

[@Babarudra]

everything she said. We need our education system to bring out the best in each of us, not cookie cutter everyone, and "diagnose" those who do things differently.

[@zornslemon]

I’m a very visual thinker and a mathematician. It gives me a unique approach to problems, but it was difficult for me to get through the exams. Some professors thought I had a fresh unique take, and some thought I was an idiot. My first PhD supervisor kept telling me I couldn’t be a researcher because I didn’t have the talent, so I changed supervisors to one who was very supportive of my unorthodox approaches to problems and we published like crazy.

[@DonHall666]

I want to hug her. She's putting into words my personal traits in ways that make so much more sense than I've ever been able to do. It also helps explain why I've been so good at certain things but not others.

[@michaellemieux4900]

WOW, I stumbled upon this and I'm so glad that I did. I'm autistic and I'm a visual but I'm learning how to be more verbal. Dr. Grandin is an inspiration and I strongly believe that several people need to see this video. People miss out on so much for they do not understand. When you refuse to talk to a person you are shutting yourself off from a library.

[@Couchintheclouds]

I work in IT and I feel like there is a great deal of undiagnosed autism in the older generation. Many people i have encountered in the IT field, myself included are a little autistic or on the spectrum.

[@BFRIZZLE909]

My youngest son is autistic, he's one of the most upbeat happy kids I know. I'm lucky and he's just perfect.

[@voodooranger1]

​@@alexgibb8406 It's not a perfect world at all. You do hear a lot about the joyful, happy side of things from people who want to project positiveness as if it will alone save the world. I can add to alex's reality; One kid would poop in random places so he could watch his carers having to clean it up. Sometimes wipe it all over the walls. He seemed to get huge enjoyment from this act. He goes through lots of carers in a 12-month period, they just can't work with him.

[@Clownk1ller]

Might wanna get checked out yourself, because I'm quite sure it's genetic. Just saying 🤷‍♀️

[@kayombomasuwa6663]

This is one of the best guests to ever come here, super smart but less technical jargon to leave your head spinning and she articulated it very well

[@hadenwesley6548]

This fantastic woman destroys "every kid gets a trophy" in 8 min. Anyone allowed to struggle and learn to turn their "weak points" (not thinking in words for traditional system) into their greatest strengths (ie thinking in pics allows to design the cattle chute differently) will blow everyone else away. Great video and thanks for Temple for her great commentary! Bring back shop class!

[@elinamakela8435]

This was a great video. I struggle with abstract math but I'm fine with geometry and physics because I can "see" it in my mind. I'm also a very visual thinker. I also see and feel the texture of music and tastes, and I'm thankful for my autistic brain.

[@savageantelope3306]

0:23-0:28 Literally the best simple definition of it I've ever heard as an autistic person.

[@gregoryhj5225]

This video made me cry in the most positive way. Thank you for helping me understand and label how i think.

[@drradon]

I am a diagnose dyslexic and I felt it so much when she talked about having to use back doors all her life. That’s how I feel. Even today I don’t like handing in written applications for anything since even among adults it seems to be considered common sense to devaluate or even make fun of bad spelling. Seeing someone who values what I do get exited about what I do is so fulfilling, you have no earthly idea.

[@HSJ1076]

The first 10 seconds brought a tear! So profound!

[@darealboot1]

I had the pleasure of meeting her in person a few years ago. Absolutely love everything about her

[@hectamus_]

Temple Grandin seems like the right person to give a voice too. They seem understanding and empathetic, but also realistic and honest about this issue. Incredible. We need to give people like this jobs in government.

[@jeffreychandler8418]

I'lve always been a really high functioning autistic person, but I've noticed recently with grad school that writting is one thing I super struggle with. I can think linearly, and like teaching, but for some reason the specific act of writting is super difficult for me to do well.

[@starseeker4716]

She is so great...what an incredible person Temple Grandin is, a true gift to the world, and she's so right!

[@user-jx8go6hi8i]

I recently read her book " Different Types/Kinds of Minds" and it's very eye opening. Assisted me in knowing my brain better and how it works the way it does.

[@wickedninjax]

Once again, thank you @bigthink for posting another excellent episode. I only recently heard of Dr. Temple Grandin and have been fascinated by her perspectives since. What she promotes regarding how things should change from an acknowledgement and a recruiting perspective are bang on the money. For too long, job prospects have been kept out of reach of so many people that would be outstanding and dedicated employees. Time to change up how HR works so the world can benefit from these otherwise hidden gems.

[@ridingboy]

As an artist and animal lover on the spectrum, and Temple's books have helped me a great deal to better understand myself in relation to other people. I would say that all animals are autistic, except most humans. Greetings from Berlin, Germany

[@AndreaCrisp]

Thank you for sharing your experience and expertise Dr. Grandin! I find the type of thinking thing (visual, patterns, language) so fascinating. The term aphantasia was only coined in 2015!! So no one, even scientists, realized that people's minds were so different. I suspect high masking autism for myself and I have aphantasia. Aphantasia is the inability to picture something in the mind's eye. The science is early, but they are linking it to neurodivergence. Meaning it seems to be more common in neurodivergent brains (adhd and autism). So it's interesting that Dr. Grandin seems to see in pictures. Seeing HD pictures/movies is also rare. Most people seem to be in between. Some visual mind's eye, but not detailed like a movie. Two years ago, when I learned that the mind's eye was real and not a figure of speech, I was blown away! It explained a lot of my issues with certain things over time. I think in words, but I am creative, do art and I see patterns and connections others don't (although not to the level of some, just better than average). But I have dyscalcula, so unfortunately I did not become the scientist that I dreamed of as a child. Still ever curious and learning. I would love to know the break down of famous, successful autistic people, do they tend to have visual HD mind's eyes like Einstein and Grandin? I am also interested to know if it can be trained/learned? If it's impacted by methylation issues? Because most with aphantasia dream, but no visuals in the mind while awake, so why is that? Dr. Joel Pearson in Australia is doing wonderful research on the topic. His newsletters/Substack articles are very interesting. Can't wait for more research to be done. But really shows the saying, "If you've met one autistic person you've met one autistic person."

[@JoyFay]

Sadly things didn’t get better for me after high school. I’d go on to experience bullying at work and continue to deal with the bullies in my family.

[@grahampalmer]

This might mean something or nothing to you but know that I for one am sorry to hear this.❤

[@matviyk3066]

Leave! I’m being honest, I had to separate and it was hard because of certain responsibilities. The bullying won’t stop, and you won’t be rude for leaving.

[@sageofsixpaths98]

​@@matviyk3066easier said than done

[@matviyk3066]

@@sageofsixpaths98 the pain is worth it. It can be a very gradual process. Can take years but even the hope of knowing you will separate to a healthy level will already help you with your mental state.

[@JoyFay]

@@grahampalmer Thank you

[@AlexanderofMiletus]

I honestly don’t know which kind of thinker I am. I think in systems-everything’s a system of some sort-but at the same time I mentally visualize those systems, and have a photographic memory. And then, I turn around, and I’m gifted at writing and debate, and language and words are intertwined with my mind.

[@serenamoon7367]

Honestly, I wish I could meet her IRL. one of my heros!❤

[@yoz2k25]

As the owner of a company that’s currently hiring and as someone that can relate to the speaker, I’ve always been intuitive in my personal hiring and training process but have had problems replicating my success. This video is eye opening.

[@leadgenjay]

Dr. Grandin's insights are incredibly valuable for understanding neurodiversity.

[@AB-J]

I remembered Temple Grandin this morning and then found her here What a coincidence

[@deborahking8770]

That's not a coincidence; it's a synchronicity. We are all deeply connected✨

[@AB-J]

@@deborahking8770 Imma look up that word later

[@KLondike5]

The social grind of middle and high school is an unfortunate thing that we still can't figure out. I also used to be annoyed by requirements to show my work in mathematics as it wasn't always obvious to me how I knew the answer. I understood and had a memorization of certain patterns and could easily do some of it in my head. Trying to break it down into a show my work sort of requirement didn't make any sense to me. I was in my 40s before I realized there was a word of synesthesia for some of my thinking. I always see ages in a very visual clock type way but then it changes after age 20 to a ramp of numbers slowly increasing to the left. The circular clock portion has a black background in my mind and a white background after age 20.

[@jerbear7952]

I can't believe we get a person like Temple. She has changed my life.

[@LucienNox]

I’ve never felt so understood. I’m literally in tears.

[@donnysandley4649]

When I was younger and terrible in school I was able to spend half day day in trade school. It was the best thing ever and now I'm a master craftsman 😎

[@EricGranata]

I have a kid with autism who has struggled in school but flourished in trade school. Love to see it. 💪

[@pieterodijk3463]

⁠@@EricGranatawhat is trade school? I’m from Europe, the Netherlands to be exact. Our schooling is different, haven’t looked trade school up yet thought maybe you could give me a small summary of why it worked for the autism?

[@MichelleCarithersAuthor]

good video about how different we are and how valuable we are once we all understand how someone expresses themselves and not placed into boxes

[@m15thios]

yes

[@slaughteredluvrgrl]

i love this woman with my whole heart please protect her at all costs

[@EdenMisc.]

Somebody give this woman a podcast

[@leaveitbetterthanyoufoundit]

Most of us can’t relate to being an autistic woman trying to implement a major change in the male dominated world of processing cattle for consumption in the 70’s. Her idea made it much more humane for the cattle. She is inspiration for all!

[@bomega2818]

All veterinarians know about Temple Grandin and her contributions to improve animal welfare and veterinary medicine overall ❤ 🙏!

[@kevincarlos973]

I'm not at all for the yassification of things but wow, her belt is really cool. But I digress. Honestly, I don't like Big Think. I don't like their titles, I don't like their thumbnails. But what Dr. Grandin had to say is valuable. I understand the KZbin game, they have to farm clicks. It's good when the clicks lead to informative content like this... despite the off-putting pretense these channels exude. I was diagnosed as autistic at 29. I could have nurtured by knack for engineering and adapt better to modern life much better if I had known earlier. I adapted OK, but I've done much better since my diagnosis because thankfully I got the help I needed. I hope information like this reaches a lot of people and kids (as well as adults) on the spectrum, and helps them find the help they need, the support and the opportunities. I also hope it leads both true leaders and average employers to consider the great return on investment they could get by making simple accommodations for autistic people that have great skills. In an increasingly corporate world, cookie-cutter protocols and token diversity are the bane of human progress.

[@Virtrial]

I think that there are probably more than just the three types of thinkers that were mentioned during this video. As an autistic individual with aphantasia I don't think in pictures. I certainly don't think in words because the majority of the time my thoughts do not have even have equivalents in the languages I know, and I almost always have a hard time verbalizing what I am thinking. I do however think very kinesthetically as well as in smells and tastes, so most memories I have are the muscle memory of how my body was moving during that event accompanied by the scents that were present for that memory. This makes me often remember things when I am doing the same physical action or when my olfactory system processes a smell in my day that reminds me of a memory strongly associated with that smell. I would argue that my brain working this way helps me in my professional life in kitchens, so I'm grateful regardless even if I have a difficult time relating to other's ways of processing stimuli.

[@AKBRONCOSFAN007]

AMEN!!! She’s wonderful. My oldest son is on the spectrum and his struggles are his self confidence due to him being bullied in school. He wants to become a diesel mechanic.

[@dynamicdingus7003]

I'm an object and spatial visualizer. My passions are art and programming. I want to combine the two in some way. Right now I'm learning game design so I can draw and animate assets, and also code the game mechanics. It's hard choosing a life path to follow cus I'm actually adhd and I'm interested in so many things, it's very overwhelming.

[@mrrobot-mn6re]

I was diagnosed at the age of 25. Living in Africa as an autistic guy is hell! I was bullied in school so much I hated it, I still do sometimes. I remember my math teacher calling me out for being slow and talking at a low tone she didn't get what I was saying. Guess what? I ended up hating math!I had zero friends and family members especially mum thought I was a very strange kid. The only thing that saved me from depression was programming. The computer become my dear friend and I would skip school to program. I was able to take myself to uni through the money I got in programming to study what I wanted; MATH! Apparently my love for math started after school! I have a dream to help autistic children coz Its such a new, "weird" thing in Africa.

[@robertbuetow6245]

I love how this video teaches about how people think differently. It's good to value our differences.

[@Hustler1856]

This is so true we have so many children in our education system with these same reasons that need our help but not one administrator is helping implement programs

[@JavierCR25]

She seems like such an amazing person. Loved this video.

[@clapperjack.]

Yes Ma'am, thanks for speaking. My thought has always been, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. There is a whole workforce of better than what's currently available just sitting idle.

[@namuYa21]

Dr. Grandin, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Very interesting to see the definition of different types of thinking. I am pretty good at memorizing and understanding things (only) if any visualization info is provided. I believe I have a mixture of types of thinking (1 + 2 ). I believe I have 0 for type 3... I knew people have different ways of thinking, but your explanation makes sense to me so far, best. Myself, working in IT industry, dealing with huge and complex data, I like to play with finding patterns and extracting meaningful info which will be provided to business ppl. I actually believe my little one has almost the same characteristics as I have. The only difference is that I didn't have speech delay. Your explanation helps me a lot to understand how I can support my little one better. Thanks again, I will check the details in your book.

[@maxgupta7339]

Coming here from reading 'The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat' by Oliver Sacks - HIGHLY recommend it to anyone interested in how we can start moving beyond labels for neurodivergence

[@sguttag]

Thank you for this video. Everyone should see it and listen.

[@mab932]

What a great video filled with so much wisdom. Thank you Dr. Grandin!

[@crystalclear6660]

I think she is great! And it makes me want to learn more about her and read her books.

[@gretchenbaker7435]

Temple is an amazing writer . Buy her books!

[@chicagosebdesigns9883]

I'm a Montessori kid. Everything we did was hands on. We even built our own textbooks and took care of large animals. I was allowed to explore and try a variety of things. My skill set today is through the roof. I understand many complex things very easily. I see patterns everywhere which made it easy to learn several languages. I think in pictures as well, which makes it easy to create things in my mind and turn them around in my head to see each side of it even though the thing doesn't exist in front of me, makes it simple to do art and especially sculpture. My dreams are like movies they're very vivid and real. Complex math is easy for me to learn, but I find it boring, i prefer fleshed out visuals and images in my head instead of numbers... Anyway, she's spot on.

[@jennifershappyplace6938]

Dr. Grandin is a hero of mine

[@EcomCarl]

Temple Grandin's remarkable achievements highlight the unique strengths that diverse cognitive styles can bring to the table, particularly in industries where innovation is key. Her journey underscores the importance of fostering an inclusive environment where different types of thinkers are valued and can thrive. 🌟

[@harrisonmccartney4878]

If I'm being perfectly honest, the DSM has become more like a horoscope of the human condition as a result of our being unable to adapt to modernity. There is no "normal" anymore. The system wants you to believe that there's nothing wrong with modern, soul-crushing life, and that anything you're feeling in response to the unnatural state of modern affairs is the product of a genetic or mental condition, and that's why everything under the sun is falling under the umbrella of mental health instead of accepting that this is how humanity reacts (negatively) to the pressures and meaninglessness of modern life. It's come to the point where a desire for true intimacy instead of vapid, short-term social relations with arbitrary strangers at work or in public has been designated a condition of some anti-social variety instead of being how human beings naturally proceed cautiously when it comes to getting to know strange or different people. If you want my honest opinion, we have to get away from classifying things as "autism" or "mental disorders" and embrace the reality that we're living in a world we're severely maladapted to, and that everything that manifests as a product of "poor mental health" is actually our bodies giving us all kinds of warnings that this is not how humanity was designed to live.

[@jauxro]

Oh! I didn't know Temple Grandin was still around, this is great

[@anthonyrussell8624]

This was awesome thank you Temple Grandin.

[@Jose-lb8md]

Omg thank you !! So many questions answered

[@studiophantomanimation]

Brillaintly direct and inspiring.

[@0ptimal]

Its amazing the varieties of minds. Its like life is using us to complete some job, and it ensures it has every tool to do so.

[@tomb7890]

It is. This is what has allowed us to exist for 300,000 years.

[@Xynic48]

Knowing that some people think in words is mind-blowing. I cant tell though if Im an object or spatial visualizer. I've always loved art. When I was young, I loved drawing. I didnt pursue a career in art but Im still able to apply my skills in UI design. Before I start designing, I always try to visualize it first before developing. But Im also a programmer, and although I wont consider myself the best, based on performance in university and in work, Im probably considered above average. But I actually suck at math, although there was one point in my life when I acrually loved math and was particularly good at it. Now I cant even solve a simple algebra problem. I think Im just a mix of both kinda of like a spectrum.

[@importantname]

True - Humanity needs all the different kinds of thinkers !!!!

[@ronlacker326]

Einstein was a scientific and intellectual fraud. He plagiarized many, if not most of his work of the backs of his contemporaries. The only reason he gets so much credit today is really because he was a Jew.

[@stefanmargraf7878]

Thank you, Prof. Grandin for your efforts to have a change of the perspective of neurotypicals in favor to hire neurodivergents. Same chances, same rights. Unfortunately the bullyism is strong in working places. There should be laws to stop the harrasment of neurodivers people. Its so easy to harrass us, its fun for those bullies. I am a dedicated visual type like you.

[@djrtime1398]

You go grandma! I’ve always been an oddball going on 65 years now. The shame is we generalize education as a one piece fits all. So many autistic people have genius level thought in each their own strengths. We need to optimize those skills in individuals. But we want it easy and cost efficient. That results in a gross loss of opportunity to utilize the intellect of these very special individuals. Instead they are marginalized and put off to the sidelines. And that’s a shame for both them and us.

[@PhantomQueenOne]

I think in pictures and music. I'm dyslexic and have dyscalculia. My spelling bites, but I still love to read. I like stories that form pictures in my minds eye, or almost musical in flow.

[@Ha-ppi-ness]

You are a hero, Temple. Thank you!

[@455rocket8]

My school life (& thoughts during that period) have a lot in common with Dr. Temple's. I went on to become a biological scientist.... I'm retired now but I'm still waiting on some of my more novel ideas to get some general acceptance.

[@cameronashtiani-eisemann8024]

Her verbal liguistic skills may not be the best but the way she combimes and strings thoughts together I highly appreciate. Gotta take some of her advice into my autistic life and become myself again. I've been too high functioning of an autistic, meaning assimilative, which has its own benefits but i could recognise that visual thinking is most natural for me. When she said it, it immediately clicked that thats the thinking type i am at resting state.

[@Kmurphyvcom50]

That is a possibility, given his specific intellectual capacity in the context of his social behavior. It’s difficult to differentiate such circumstances when outside of a context of more evident gross motor, language, or cognitive development. People can be extraordinarily “high functioning” but have subtle differences that affect general social interactions and behaviors. It’s how situations that are adaptable to an individual can have as much impact as the individual’s adaptability to various situations, and why labeling a particular person isn’t the end goal for improving overall outcomes and quality of life, but a starting point.

[@wanghaowang5790]

Thanks for sharing

[@TheAlchemistZero1]

Neurodiversity/Autism: Autism is a sensory condition. Those within the spectrum are affected by ambient stimuli: taste, touch, smell, etc. The greater their sensitivities to the aforementioned stimuli; leads to proportionally amplified physical/emotional responsiveness. the Alchemist - Ø1

[@madwilliamflint]

I wish I knew someone like her when I was a kid. Or, you know, now.

[@denisnovichkov3726]

Кинуонг

[@asolitudeworld6118]

She is right. I've had a learning disability my whole life which I still don't really know what it is to this day. I speculate that I might have ADHD. My point is that it's very tough to get a job right now. Especially since I don't know how to present myself like most people do at interviews. Everyone seems to be a bit more well put together while I'm doing my best willing to learn but get turned down. How do you expect anyone to learn if all you do is expect them to know it already.

[@GizzyDillespee]

The interview process definitely favors pathological liars. That's not even debatable. Most of the people you see, who seem so well put together, aren't. They successfully emulated their parents who had confident autopilots. They only show their insecurity in private to their families... the rest of the world sees a pillar of the community. So... I think many people feel like you do, but are hiding it behind a facade of it's all good. When somebody is hiring, sometimes they have other considerations besides the job at hand. You might be surprised how many men hire a secretary in the hopes of a "Penthouse Letters" scenario happening. I had a guy hire me once... it turned out he'd lost all his weed connections, and one of the unspoken job qualifications is you had to look like you knew where to get some high quality weed. There are all kinds of weird considerations people have, when hiring, aside from the actual job at hand. Don't take it to heart too much if you don't get hired - it doesn't mean that there's something wrong with you. There may have been a more qualified applicant... or maybe there's something wrong with the boss. I'm not joking - I've seen things like this, first and 2nd hand. For the remainder of the opportunities that don't come with as much of that type of baggage... It helps if you've developed an autopilot that fits the culture of that community. For example, if you're interviewing to be an airline flight attendant, it will help your chances if, to the interviewer, it feels like they're talking to a flight attendant - if your mannerisms, body language, your interests, the things you say, seem flight attendant-ish. Same with interviewing to bend sheet metal, or apartment complex maintenance, or whatever job - if you seem like an office worker, you probably won't get the carpentry job. With some jobs, you might need school training, or on-the-job training at a more entry-level position... to learn the culture as much as the skills. The next best thing to an appropriate autopilot (and much better for actual job performance) is to be mindful of the present moment, and comfortable in your own skin. Do you know how banks prefer to loan money to people who don't really need a loan (IOW, people who are already rich)? Same with jobs. Unless they're planning to exploit you heavily, it's much better if you don't seem desperate for the job. You'll be more at ease in your own skin when you don't want anything from a situation. If you somehow can internalize the attitude that you'd love the job, but if you don't get it, that's fine too... Then, you'll be more at ease in your own skin, and with less worries, there will be more space in your mind to respond to the interviewer. It took me so many years to figure out those things... and those are oversimplifications, but I hope you or someone finds them helpful. Those are personal observations, not universal law, so different people probably have different observations. That's just what I've noticed.

[@VikiSil]

For context: At the time of writing the thumbnail of this video is a portrait of Einstein with an arrow pointing towards him and a text "Neurodiverse?". It may or may not be the case when you are reading this comment, since the curators of this channel are known to swap out different thumbnails for clickbait. Comment: Single individuals are either neurotypical or neurodivergent. Individuals are not neurodiverse (unless their neurodivergence is a multiple personality disorder, in which case - debatable). Diversity implies existence of more than one. Populations are neurodiverse, since they consist of multiple individuals. Individuals are neurodivergent, i.e. divergent from the neurotypical norm/majority of the population.

[@castrome7]

You are so awesome and yes I'm going to tell Charlie to get my that book cuz I want it

[@AuntieMamies]

I love this woman

[@kh5603]

LOVE THIS! Love Dr. Grandin, a wonderful national treasure. Neurospicies unite!

[@oh_knee7173]

thanks lady i needed to hear this

[@kyleturner6028]

Really enjoyed Temple Grandin ❤