Asperger's Traits with Differences of Temperament and Thought Processes
Different Temperament Types
Intense Aspies
Choleric - the Overcomer - highly ambitious and determined; voices strong opinions; sticks out from the crowd
Sanguine - the Charmer - motivated to attract attention; rebel at heart; demands proof for common assumptions
Reserved Aspies
Phlegmatic - the Bookworm - mature and immature at the same time; tends to do well in school, but not in life
Melancholy - the Geek - seeks peace at any price; very talented and focused; easily taken advantage of
Different Thought Types
Visual Thought Aspies - Temple Grandin-style, these Aspies think in pictures and may struggle to put thoughts into words. They see areas for improvement that others never even notice. It's important to wait long enough for these Aspies to blurt out their thoughts, even though they may use substitute words for what they really mean, or let one sentence hang without the ending until you mind-read and feed them the word. They also may not answer a question until the next day! They require patience among their listeners.
Verbal Thought Aspies - Like me, Verbal Aspies think in a running commentary of everything going on around us, and particularly interpreting sounds - even background noises which are practically meaningless. We excel at memorizing through auditory means, and therefore get high grades in school. During times of stress, it helps Verbal Aspies to slow our thoughts to one- or two- word phrases, perhaps writing them in the boxes of an old calendar till the month is filled. I like to do this before I go to bed, and call this trick the "Magical Calendar."
Patterned Thought Aspies - These Aspies excel in math and logic and can do great things in the world of computer programming or art. They are the quintessential perfectionists. Although all the Aspies I ever met were detail freaks and perfectionists, Patterned Thought Aspies take it to a whole new level. "Lego-maniacs" may very well be Patterned Thought Aspies.
[Note: I borrowed the terms for temperaments from the book, The Spirit-Filled Temperament by Tim LaHaye. I borrowed the ideas for the thought types from a speech by Temple Grandin.]
" . . . IT PLEASED GOD, WHO SEPARATED ME FROM MY MOTHER'S WOMB, AND CALLED ME BY HIS GRACE, TO REVEAL HIS SON IN ME, THAT I MIGHT PREACH HIM AMONG THE HEATHEN . . . ."