Do NT's get obsessive?

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Obviously we have special interest and focus on specific topics and learn everything we can about it etc. this is part of AS but can't NT's be "obsessive?" Surely your doctor must of had a HUGE interest in X body part/topic to be studying you and diagnosing you they MUST HAVE enjoyed learning it. (not sure if it's to an obsessive extent though) OR are NT's fine with mundane boring learning (example what the teacher teaches) vs. (Me questioning the teacher in Psychology and chatting about Psychology to her 24/7)

Of couse, haven't you seen any NTs talk about sports or hear kids in your school talking about the same thing over and over?

Ever heard of NT stalkers? Maybe they aren't NT.


There are normal obsessions and abnormal obsessions. Ours are called abnormal because they are not the majority people have and people seem to obsess about it with other people while we obsess about ours on our own all the time. And the difference is they can turn off their obsessions and not think about it while we do and can't shut them off. Yeah we can learn to not talk about them but it's still in our head.

But there are even NTs out there who have "abnormal" interests. Most likely the introverted ones.

Ya I was the type unable to turn off my Psychology interest LOL!

I'm NT and I obsess about everyday things, like I count my ice cubes and sometimes feel compelled to say street names aloud when driving.

As for school, I've always gotten much worse grades in any class I was not interested in (math for me...ugh...), but if I was interested I would go above and beyond because I found it so fascinating. Psychology is what I groove on

Everyones a little quirky, NT or otherwise!

Common NT obsessions:
Sports
women/men
animae
and last but not least.........sex


It dosen't seem weird or strange to other NT's because they are probably obsessed with the same things too. For some reason it's okay to be obsessed with sports or Japanese cartoons or even sex, but heaven forbid someone is obsessed with a pitculair animal species.

One example is a person who is an obsessive exerciser. Actually, that would be an obsession and compulsion.

My mother is NT and she would obsess after an exam over whether or not she passed (she always did).

My mom is obsessed about home and gardening but she doesn't talk about it. When she is watching TV, most of the shows she has on is that. I think it's one of her special interests.

Sure. I've heard NT's obsess over a boy/girl they may have crush on.

I believe NTs can obsess but they do it emotionally. So for example the difference between an aspie and an NT being obsessed with (Australian) football would be like this-

Aspie- focuses on one team. Learns the names of all the players, past and present for the last 10 years. Remembers all the games they played, each round, against who, if it was a win or loss, the scores and margin. Remembers coaches over the years, when the team was first established. Historical win/loss records for each playing ground. Historical win/loss records against each other team. Couldn't care less about watching them live, rather watches taped games over and over and over to learn every move made for every game, learning the commentator commentary by heart in the process. Their team winning a grand final is another stat, and another game to watch taped over and over.

NT- focuses on one team, usually one in the same city. Absolutely must go to that teams games if they are playing that week at the NTs city. God forbid you try to stop them going to games if their team gets into the finals. When at a game or watching one has a completely one eyed view of the umpiring, in which penalties against their team are always wrong. Has to watch the game live but is dis-inclined to ever watch a game a second time unless its a grand final their team won. Often yells abuse at the other team when they play good and cheers loudly, yelling when their team does good. May learn historical win/loss records at each stadium. Always bets on their team to win, always. Takes special care to play along with any team rivalries their team may have. Mostly would only know their teams current players by name. If their team wins a grand final it is an awesome excuse for a party so they can brag to all their friends about how their team won the grand final.

I guess aspies have interests, rather than being passionate about them they have an intense drive to learn more. NTs get passionately involved, or emotionally involved.

Of course this is a guess, generalisation and stereotyping, it could be wrong but generally i think this is true

Yes I get very obsessive.

In answer to the question in your post, rather than in its title--yes, many NTs AND many Aspies can study things they aren't obsessed with. Not being able to focus your attention by force of will is more an ADHD thing.

NTs can be obsessive, yes, but they don't tend to do it to such a degree, with such an enthusiasm, and such tunnel vision (not concentrating on anything else and/or putting interests above all else).

They also do it with different things to us. As Luke Jackson said in Geeks, Freaks, and Asperger's Syndrome:
When is an obsession not an obsession? When it's about football.

Yes, if you're obsessed with football, know all the teams, know all the scores, and memorised all the names of the players, that's all fine and dandy, but if you do the same with computers, trains, or anything else, you have something wrong with you.