21/08/2025
If you’ve ever felt like a walking contradiction, this diagram explains why.
From a behavioural perspective, this diagram by Katy Higgins Lee, MA, MFT is a powerful reminder of why people often feel like they don’t fit neatly into one category.
Each area — ADHD, autism, giftedness — comes with distinct behavioural traits:
• ADHD might look like novelty-seeking, quick responses in emergencies, or difficulty sustaining focus.
• Autism often shows up as a preference for routine, strong pattern recognition, or sensory sensitivities.
• Giftedness can involve abstract thinking, rapid comprehension, or deep emotional awareness.
But when these traits overlap, behaviours can look “contradictory.”
For example:
• Seeking novelty (ADHD) but needing predictability (autism).
• Spotting patterns and systems (gifted/autism) while struggling with executive function (ADHD).
• Having advanced problem-solving skills (gifted) but difficulty regulating attention (ADHD).
Seen in isolation, these behaviours can be misunderstood or mislabelled. But taken together, they form a picture of what’s often called being “multiply exceptional.”
The takeaway? Behaviour is communication. What may look inconsistent is, in fact, a reflection of multiple systems operating simultaneously. With the right supports and understanding, these “contradictions” are not deficits — they’re part of a unique behavioural profile that brings both challenges and remarkable strengths.
This is why a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works. Whether in education, workplaces, or clinical practice, recognising the overlap helps us move from judgment to support, and from deficit-based thinking to a strengths-based lens.
The world doesn’t need neat boxes. It needs space for complexity.
Picture credit: Katy Higgins Lee, MA, MFT
