Explore the incredible abilities of autistic individuals to teach themselves and their insatiable curiosity. Discover the intrinsic motivation behind self-learning for autistics and the methods they use. Delve into the joys and challenges of self-learning, showcasing famous autodidacts. Learn about the value of self-teaching and its importance in various professions.
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Quick takeaways
Autistic individuals are often self-taught and have a strong desire to learn and understand a wide range of subjects and skills.
Self-learning opens up new worlds and interests for autistics, keeping them engaged, satisfied, and providing a sense of purpose and accomplishment.
Deep dives
Autism and Self-Learning
Autistic individuals are often self-taught and have a strong desire to learn and understand. This intrinsic motivation drives them to become auto-didacts, teaching themselves a wide range of subjects and skills. Autistics have an insatiable curiosity and the ability to focus, which allows them to delve into various interests like music, foreign languages, cooking, and more. The motivation for self-learning comes from within, stemming from a love of learning and a desire for accomplishment rather than external rewards. Sharing knowledge is an integral part of being an auto-didact, although some autistic individuals make a conscious effort to avoid overwhelming others with facts and information.
Famous Auto-didacts and Benefits of Self-Learning
Many well-known figures throughout history, such as Michael Faraday, Frida Kahlo, Bill Gates, and Albert Einstein, were self-learners. Autistic individuals often exhibit diverse interests and skills due to their self-taught nature. Self-learning opens up new worlds and interests for autistics, keeping them engaged and rarely bored. Tech companies are recognizing the value of self-taught skills, and some no longer require college degrees for certain positions. Self-learning provides a sense of purpose, accomplishment, and satisfaction while offering distractions from stressors in life. It allows autistics to continuously expand their knowledge and expertise, making them perpetual learners.
An autistic’s love of knowledge is a reason many are self-taught. From painting to music an autistic has unlimited capacity to know more. What other things drive an autistic to teach themselves? Listen and learn.