What is a Monotropic Spiral?

Monday, 5/6/24.

What is a Monotropic Spiral?

Monotropism is chasing the joy that comes from an all-consuming, singular, deep hyperfocus.

It particularly helps many neurodivergent humans regulate their nervous systems better.

The focus of monotropic attention is both familiar and reassuring to all humans, but for some humans, this state has particular meaning..

In my recent conversation with Mona Kay, MSW PhD, we discussed the power of flow states for maintaining self-care for some neurodivergent humans.

Since 2017, Mona has studied best practices for intimate relationships with neurodivergent partners with a passion. Her perspective is based on a three-decade-long relationship that ended.

Mona is fiercely curious about what changes she could have made to be a better partner and friend in the long term. In addition, she’s deeply studied how partners who think differently can show up differently in their relationships.

Mona has nurtured a thriving learning academy of curious couples in her Neurodiverse Love community. Our discussion of monotropism was wide-ranging.

Monotropic Spiral is often associated with the Monotropism Theory proposed by Donna Williams, an autistic author and advocate.

The concept of monotropism suggests that some neurodivergent humans tend to focus their attention intensely on one or a few interests or stimuli at a time… rather than spreading their attention across multiple stimuli as neurotypical folks might.

The Monotropic Spiral visual metaphor represents how attention and focus operate in some neurodiverse humans. Rather than a broad and diffuse attentional field, as might be depicted by a wider spiral, the attention of some neurodivergent humans is often described as a narrower and more intense spiral, with attention focused tightly on specific interests or stimuli. This visual representation helps illustrate the concept of monotropism and how attention is directed in brains that differ from the norm.

What is Monotropism?

Some consider monotropism to be the underlying principle behind some forms of neurodivergence.

Humans are intrigued by many things that captivate interest and help direct our attention.

In a monotropic mind, unlike a neurotypical mind, fewer interests tend to be aroused at any time, and they attract more of our processing resources, making it harder to deal with things outside of our current attentional focus.

The monotropic spiral is a helpful concept for understanding the cognitive and attentional differences experienced by neurodivergent humans and how these differences shape their experiences and interactions with the world.

The concept of the monotropic spiral provides valuable insight into the cognitive processing style of humans with autism. Here are a few key points to consider:

• Intense Focus: Neurodivergent humans often focus intensely on specific interests or stimuli. This focused attention can lead to deep engagement and mastery of particular subjects or activities.

• Difficulty with Multitasking: Monotropic attention may make it challenging for some neurodiverse humans to multitask or switch attention rapidly between different stimuli. Instead, they may prefer to focus intensely on one task or topic at a time.

• Sensory Sensitivities: The narrow focus of the monotropic spiral can also relate to sensory processing differences experienced by some neurodivergent humans. They may be hypersensitive to specific sensory inputs while being less responsive to others, leading to a selective focus on specific sensory experiences.

• Strengths and Challenges: While the monotropic attentional style can present challenges in specific contexts, such as navigating environments with overwhelming sensory stimuli or following multiple instructions simultaneously, it also confers strengths. Consequently, neurodiverse humans may excel in fields that require intense focus, attention to detail, and deep domain-specific knowledge.

• Individual Differences: It's essential to recognize that the monotropic spiral is a metaphorical representation, and attentional patterns can vary widely among all neurotypes that are untypical

• Some neurodiverse humans exhibit a very narrow focus on one particular interest. In contrast, others may have multiple interests or areas of focus but still demonstrate aspects of monotropism in their attentional style.

Understanding the concept of the monotropic spiral can inform support strategies and accommodations tailored to the unique cognitive and attentional profiles of individuals with autism, allowing them to thrive and reach their full potential.

Educational Settings: In academic settings, understanding the monotropic attentional style can help teachers and educators create learning environments that accommodate the needs of all neurodivergent students.

Providing opportunities for deep, focused exploration of topics of interest, allowing for flexibility in task completion, and minimizing distractions can support learning and engagement for students with monotropic attention.

Workplace Accommodations: Employers can also benefit from recognizing and accommodating the monotropic attentional style of individuals with autism in the workplace.

Providing clear instructions, minimizing sensory distractions, and offering opportunities for neurodivergent humans to focus deeply on tasks aligned with their interests and strengths can enhance productivity and job satisfaction.

Creative Expression: The intense focus associated with monotropic attention can be channeled into creative pursuits such as art, music, writing, or coding. Recognizing and nurturing these talents can provide avenues for self-expression, personal growth, and career development for non-typical humans.

Relationships and Social Interaction: Understanding monotropic attention can also inform interactions with neurodivergent humans in social and interpersonal contexts.

Recognizing when someone is deeply engaged in a topic of “special interest” and allowing them space to explore that interest can foster meaningful connections and communication.

Research and Advocacy: The concept of the monotropic spiral has implications for neuroscience research and advocacy efforts. By acknowledging and studying the unique attentional patterns and cognitive processing styles of neurodiverse humans, researchers can gain deeper insights into the neurodiversity of the human experience and develop interventions and support that better meet the needs of all neurotypes across the human cognitive spectrum.

Final thoughts

Overall, the monotropic spiral concept offers a valuable framework for understanding and appreciating the diverse ways neurodivergent humans engage with the world around them.

Embracing neurodiversity and recognizing the strengths and challenges associated with monotropic attention can lead to more inclusive and supportive environments for individuals with autism.

Mona’s aspiration is that through the power and connectivity of social media and the “Neurodiverse Love” podcast, she, her co-hosts, and guests will be able to bring lived experiences, information, and tools to neurodiverse couples throughout the world to increase understanding of the strengths and differences that can help each partner thrive individually and as a couple. 

I want to thank Mona Kay, MSW, PhD, the host of the Neurodiverse Love podcast for discussing monotropism with me. Order the Neurodiverse Love Conversation Cards. Dr. Kay can be found on Instagram @neurodiverse_love. Please visit www.neurodiverselove.com and email neurodiverselove4u@gmail.com.

Be well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.