Curt Doolittle

Theme: Agency

  • (Diary) In my personal life I’m gregarious and a bit humorous. Most people like

    (Diary)
    In my personal life I’m gregarious and a bit humorous. Most people like me even if they consider me unapproachable or intimidating in some way or other (which I think is silly).
    Here on X I am nearly always working in my function as a scientist, using social media as a research and testing platform. (Or clowning around)
    In business I am quite sophisticated and competitive – especially in business strategy, having provided consulting to so many fortune 400 companies, and running the strategy practice.
    So there are sort of ‘three versions’ of me. And it’s interesting when someone from one version encounters me in another version and is confused: I just got off the phone with someone in the biz space. It was interesting. 😉
    Who are we after all? Does everyone have a different character given the seriousness of the subject? I think very accomplished people in real world occupations (not the academy) have to.

    Source date (UTC): 2024-11-25 19:22:04 UTC

    Original post: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1861128236383772674

  • RT @exquofonte: A mother’s love is blind for a reason. It must be. But her blind

    RT @exquofonte: A mother’s love is blind for a reason. It must be. But her blindness applies not only to her children and her peers’ childr…

    Source date (UTC): 2024-11-25 05:12:06 UTC

    Original post: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1860914337273303048

  • ( A counsel that is correct, and frequently stated by the staff – which, unfortu

    ( A counsel that is correct, and frequently stated by the staff – which, unfortunately, I find difficult to adhere to, because of my moral instinct to ‘punish and reform’ those who pollute the informational commons. … That said I will try harder. 😉 )

    Source date (UTC): 2024-11-25 00:19:38 UTC

    Original post: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1860840734250950946

    Reply addressees: @LeSkipperse @YorkshlreHiker

    Replying to: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1860777425845502252

  • HERITABILITY AND UTILITY OF ADHD ADHD has a genetic component (70-80% ) that is

    HERITABILITY AND UTILITY OF ADHD
    ADHD has a genetic component (70-80% ) that is highly heritable and expressed in utero during development. ADHD is difficult to avoid, because it’s polygenic and results from the cumulative effect of many genes. Since it’s polygenic and not selected against it must serve some purpose.

    Possible Causes for the Perpetuation of ADHD Traits
    TL/DR; A distribution of cognitive styles insures a group can more successfully exploit opportunities of time space risk and reward rather than people who are in fact similar in cognitive styles. While quality differences between populations are due to neoteny, geographic adaptation, and genetic load most human variation is due to sex differences in cognition valuation and expression. As such almost all human behavior is causally reducible to those dimensions four dimensions of: sex, neoteny (race), geography (ethnicity), and load (class).

    1. Adaptive Advantages in Evolutionary Contexts
    Hyperfocus and Creativity:Traits associated with ADHD, such as hyperfocus during periods of intense interest, may have been advantageous for solving complex problems or innovating.
    Enhanced creativity and novel problem-solving skills would have been valuable in dynamic or changing environments.
    Exploration and Risk-Taking: High impulsivity and novelty-seeking behavior, common in ADHD, may have conferred survival benefits in hunter-gatherer societies:Foragers: Individuals prone to explore new territories, resources, or methods of survival may have benefited their groups.
    Scouts: High-risk, high-reward behaviors could have been advantageous for discovering food sources or avoiding threats.
    Rapid Response and Vigilance: ADHD-like traits may enhance alertness to environmental changes, benefiting individuals in roles requiring quick reactions or adaptability (e.g., during hunting or combat).

    2. Trade-Offs in Cognitive and Behavioral Traits
    Short-Term Advantages vs. Long-Term Costs: The impulsivity and distractibility of ADHD may lead to short-term successes in certain high-stakes or dynamic situations, offsetting the longer-term disadvantages.
    Specialization in Group Dynamics:
    In a tribal setting, individuals with ADHD-like traits may have filled unique niches, complementing those with more consistent focus and planning skills.
    Group success often depends on diverse personality and cognitive types.

    3. Balancing Selection
    Heterozygote Advantage: Genes associated with ADHD may confer advantages in heterozygous states, while homozygous expression results in more severe manifestations of the disorder.
    This dynamic maintains genetic diversity within the population.
    Environmental Dependence: Traits that are maladaptive in modern, sedentary, and structured societies may have been adaptive in ancestral environments.
    Selection pressures can shift, making certain traits less advantageous without entirely removing them.

    4. Gene-Pleiotropy and Overlap with Other Traits
    Shared Genetic Pathways: ADHD-associated genes may also influence other traits that are highly adaptive, such as intelligence, creativity, or social influence.
    For example, genes affecting dopamine signaling may enhance reward sensitivity, increasing motivation in some contexts despite leading to impulsivity in others.
    Pleiotropic Effects:Genes involved in ADHD may also play roles in other biological systems or behaviors, making them resistant to negative selection because they provide overall net benefits.

    5. Modern Mismatch with Evolutionary Context
    ADHD traits may have been adaptive in environments requiring high mobility, rapid adaptation, and risk-taking but are less so in modern settings that prioritize sustained attention, routine, and long-term planning.
    The rise of structured educational systems and workplace environments may have highlighted ADHD as a disorder rather than an adaptive variant.

    6. Weak Selection Pressure Against ADHD
    ADHD does not typically result in significantly reduced reproductive fitness: Many individuals with ADHD have children and pass on their genes.
    The disorder often manifests more as a variation in behavioral traits rather than as a catastrophic condition that would eliminate carriers from the gene pool.

    Examples of ADHD Traits in Historical or Evolutionary Contexts
    Explorers and Innovators: Risk-taking and novelty-seeking traits associated with ADHD likely drove exploration, discovery, and technological advances.
    Leaders in Crisis: Impulsivity and rapid decision-making may have been valuable in chaotic or high-pressure situations.
    Group Success: (THIS:) Diversity in cognitive styles ensured that groups could respond to a wider range of challenges and opportunities.

    Summary
    The persistence of ADHD in the population likely reflects a balance between its adaptive benefits in certain contexts and its modern disadvantages in structured, sedentary societies. ADHD traits are maintained because they provide group-level or individual-level advantages in dynamic, unpredictable environments, outweighing their costs under ancestral conditions. Natural selection operates on the totality of traits and their contributions to survival and reproduction, and ADHD traits appear to have played a meaningful role in human evolution.

    Cheers
    CD 😉

    Reply addressees: @programmabiliti @nobitanobi405

    Source date (UTC): 2024-11-24 19:08:58 UTC

    Original post: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1860762553498136576

    Replying to: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1860631175938658690

  • ASD COMORBIDITY BY PFC DEVELOPMENT I always find it interesting when people argu

    ASD COMORBIDITY BY PFC DEVELOPMENT
    I always find it interesting when people argue with me. 😉
    I don’t recognize your alias so perhaps you don’t know me or my work. What I suspect you’re missing is the IQ difference of programmers and their work as therapy vs lower IQ criminals and their lack of capacity for therapeutic occupation.

    Prevalence of Comorbidity
    ADHD and ASD: ~30–80% of individuals with ASD also meet criteria for ADHD.
    ASD and OCD: ~17–37% of individuals with ASD exhibit clinically significant OCD symptoms.
    ASD and SAD: Social anxiety occurs in ~20–50% of individuals with ASD, often due to difficulties in interpreting social cues.
    ADHD and OCD: ~20–30% of individuals with ADHD have co-occurring OCD, though their interaction can be complex and variable.
    ADHD and SAD: ~25–50% of individuals with ADHD exhibit significant social anxiety.
    OCD and SAD: Often co-occur (~20–30%), as intrusive thoughts and fears of judgment exacerbate avoidance and compulsive behaviors.

    Neurological Overlaps

    Shared Dysfunction in Brain Regions:
    Prefrontal Cortex (PFC): Impaired executive function is central to all four conditions, contributing to inattention (ADD/ADHD), rigid thinking (ASD, OCD), and difficulty with social evaluation (SAD).
    Amygdala: Hyperactivity in the amygdala links heightened fear responses (SAD, OCD) with emotional dysregulation (ADHD, ASD).
    Basal Ganglia: Abnormalities in the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) loop underlie repetitive behaviors (ASD, OCD) and impulse control issues (ADHD).
    Insula: Implicated in sensory sensitivities (ASD), interoception (SAD), and emotional dysregulation (ADHD, OCD).

    Neurotransmitter Dysregulation:
    Dopamine: Dysregulated dopaminergic systems affect attention, reward processing, and compulsivity in ADHD, ASD, and OCD.
    Serotonin: Serotonergic dysfunction contributes to anxiety (SAD), obsessional thinking (OCD), and rigid behaviors (ASD).
    Glutamate: Imbalances in excitatory-inhibitory signaling impact repetitive behaviors (ASD, OCD) and emotional regulation (SAD, ADHD).

    Behavioral and Cognitive Commonalities

    Executive Dysfunction:
    Common across all four conditions, causing difficulty with planning, flexibility, and inhibition.
    In ADHD, this manifests as impulsivity; in OCD and ASD, as rigid thinking; and in SAD, as rumination and avoidance.
    Social Difficulties:
    ASD and SAD share challenges with social interaction, though ASD stems from difficulty interpreting social cues, while SAD arises from fear of negative evaluation.
    ADHD can contribute to social difficulties due to impulsivity and inattentiveness.
    Repetitive or Rigid Behaviors:
    Present in ASD and OCD but may also occur in ADHD as a coping mechanism or hyperfocus.
    Anxiety:
    Prominent in SAD and OCD but also common in ASD (due to sensory/social challenges) and ADHD (due to difficulties managing stress and expectations).

    Common Comorbid Patterns

    ASD + ADHD:
    Overlapping symptoms: Inattention, impulsivity, executive dysfunction.
    Differentiation: ADHD involves hyperactivity; ASD presents with social and sensory challenges.
    Clinical impact: ADHD exacerbates difficulties with focus and self-regulation in ASD.

    ASD + OCD:
    Overlapping symptoms: Repetitive behaviors, rigid thinking.
    Differentiation: OCD compulsions are driven by intrusive thoughts; ASD repetitive behaviors are often sensory or routine-driven.
    Clinical impact: OCD adds additional distress to the structured routines of ASD.

    ASD + SAD:
    Overlapping symptoms: Social difficulties, avoidance of social situations.
    Differentiation: SAD involves fear of judgment; ASD involves difficulty decoding social signals.
    Clinical impact: SAD amplifies avoidance in social situations already challenging for ASD.

    ADHD + OCD:
    Overlapping symptoms: Impulse control issues (OCD rituals vs. ADHD impulsivity).
    Differentiation: ADHD behaviors are less goal-oriented than OCD compulsions.
    Clinical impact: The inattention of ADHD interferes with OCD rituals, increasing frustration.

    ADHD + SAD:
    Overlapping symptoms: Difficulty maintaining focus in social settings, avoidance behaviors.
    Differentiation: ADHD struggles stem from inattention, while SAD stems from fear of judgment.
    Clinical impact: SAD adds a layer of anxiety to the already distracted state of ADHD.

    OCD + SAD:
    Overlapping symptoms: Fear-driven avoidance, hyperfocus on negative outcomes.
    Differentiation: OCD involves intrusive thoughts and compulsions; SAD focuses on social evaluation.
    Clinical impact: Fear of judgment (SAD) amplifies OCD-driven compulsive behaviors.

    Reply addressees: @programmabiliti

    Source date (UTC): 2024-11-23 07:31:53 UTC

    Original post: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1860224736145616896

    Replying to: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1860217977460916387

  • There are three dimensions of expression on the spectrum all of which are deriva

    There are three dimensions of expression on the spectrum all of which are derivations of compartmentalization.

    OCD, ADD, social anxiety all of which are amplified by autism’s suppression of self.

    See:

    To test the statement, we will examine its claims for coherence, correspondence to known evidence, and logical consistency.

    ### Key Elements of the Statement

    1. **Three Dimensions of Expression as Derivations of Compartmentalization**
    – The statement suggests that **Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)**, **Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)**, and **Social Anxiety** are “dimensions of expression” derived from “compartmentalization.”

    2. **Amplification by Autism’s Suppression of Self**
    – It claims that these three conditions are “amplified” by autism, attributed to autism’s **suppression of self.**

    —

    ### Testing the Claims

    #### 1. **Are OCD, ADD, and Social Anxiety Dimensions of Expression?**
    – OCD, ADD, and social anxiety are distinct psychological conditions with well-documented diagnostic criteria. They may share overlapping neurobiological and psychological traits, such as issues with **executive functioning, cognitive rigidity, and emotional regulation**.
    – **Compartmentalization**, in psychological terms, refers to a defense mechanism where conflicting thoughts or feelings are separated to reduce internal conflict.
    – **OCD:** Could be argued as a maladaptive form of compartmentalization, as individuals with OCD separate intrusive thoughts from “normal” cognition but are hyper-fixated on controlling them.
    – **ADD:** Involves deficits in focus and sustained attention. It may not directly align with compartmentalization unless interpreted as fragmented attention rather than structured separation.
    – **Social Anxiety:** Relates more to hyperawareness of others’ perceptions and self-criticism than to compartmentalization.
    – **Conclusion:** While there are some potential links, compartmentalization as a unifying mechanism for these three conditions is speculative and not strongly supported by current research.

    —
    #### 2. **Amplification by Autism**
    – Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by **difficulties in social communication**, **restricted and repetitive behaviors**, and sometimes atypical sensory processing. The “suppression of self” could refer to:
    – Challenges in self-expression and understanding one’s internal states (alexithymia).
    – Difficulty aligning internal motivations with external social norms due to rigid thinking.
    – **Autism amplifying OCD, ADD, and Social Anxiety:**
    – **OCD and Autism:** High comorbidity; repetitive behaviors in autism may resemble or exacerbate OCD-like traits.
    – **ADD and Autism:** Executive dysfunction is common in both, and attention issues may be worsened by sensory or cognitive overload in autism.
    – **Social Anxiety and Autism:** Social challenges in autism could amplify self-consciousness, leading to greater anxiety in social situations.
    – **Conclusion:** The claim that autism “amplifies” these conditions is plausible and aligns with existing clinical evidence.

    —
    #### 3. **Logical Consistency**
    – If autism involves “suppression of self,” this suppression might contribute to difficulty integrating thoughts, emotions, and actions into a coherent sense of identity. This could theoretically exacerbate OCD, ADD, or social anxiety by increasing rigidity, fragmentation, or hyperawareness.
    – However, **compartmentalization as a unifying explanation** for the three conditions is less clear, as ADD and social anxiety do not readily fit this model.

    —
    ### Refined Analysis of the Statement
    The statement contains plausible elements but conflates distinct phenomena under a single framework (compartmentalization). A more precise formulation might be:

    > Autism’s challenges with self-expression and integration of thoughts and feelings can amplify co-occurring conditions like OCD, ADD, and social anxiety.

    Reply addressees: @programmabiliti

    Source date (UTC): 2024-11-23 03:24:12 UTC

    Original post: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1860162405873123331

    Replying to: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1860146535352402058

  • This is true. Being on the spectrum as long as you are capable of self regulatio

    This is true. Being on the spectrum as long as you are capable of self regulation (not full autism) is a superpower. It’s the natural direction of human evolution. A study of contributions by people on the spectrum illustrate that nearly all significant contributions to… https://twitter.com/HussainIbarra/status/1859593473306829307

    Source date (UTC): 2024-11-23 00:43:02 UTC

    Original post: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1860121846836002915

  • (Reaction to manosphere video) Why do women think men lack the confidence and se

    (Reaction to manosphere video)
    Why do women think men lack the confidence and security in approaching them? Rather than that men consider them too much effort for too much social risk, for too much maintenance for too little return.
    It’s just beyond me that women can’t comprehend the simplicity of male assessment of women. Women see men as OPPORTUNITIES, but men see women as COSTS.
    The reason is, modern women only bring sex to the relationship. Are they providing nesting (home), care, peace? It’s all about their consumption instead. As such, women are a luxury good (sex) and nothing else – unless their cost is worth the effort necessary for the man to find ‘peace’ at home.
    Men are aware of the degree of their ability to competitively produce surpluses that women want to consume. If a woman is too costly in time effort stress and income then it’s just not worth pursuing her.
    Instead of these ‘city girls’ watch how men react to country girls. It’s so obvious. Women don’t style up for men – they do it for women – and in doing so they drive up their perceived cost to men, and lower their perceived value to men, because women’s investment is for themselves and other women – not men.
    You will never be more beautiful to a man who loves you than you are waking up in the morning, with messy hair, no makeup, and relaxed features, after wearing one of his shirts to sleep in.
    Just is.

    Source date (UTC): 2024-11-21 23:33:09 UTC

    Original post: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1859741874879340544

  • (Diary – Retrospective) Some of the Companies I Founded Over Twenty Years in the

    (Diary – Retrospective)
    Some of the Companies I Founded Over Twenty Years in the Seattle-Bellevue-Redmond area: All of them sold. But the truth is, none of them grew or survived my departure in one way or another.

    Right now I’m trying to repatriate my company from Ukraine and UK to the States because I’m healthy enough now to do it and the technology has caught up. But in doing so I am … somewhere between concerned and obsessed with ensuring it survives me. Is that rational? I dunno. 😉

    Ascentium (2001, 100M), a Bellevue-based consulting firm, underwent significant changes over the years. In 2010, Avanade, a global professional services company, acquired Ascentium’s practice from Ascentium’s offices in Baltimore, Maryland, and Bellevue, Washington, into Avanade’s operations. Following this transaction, Ascentium’s remaining business units continued to operate independently. However, over time, the company ceased operations, and its presence in the consulting industry diminished.

    Redmond Technology Partners (1995, 10M), commonly known as Redtech, was a Bellevue-based consulting firm specializing in technology solutions. In 2012, Redtech was acquired by Sogeti USA, a subsidiary of the Capgemini Group, a global leader in consulting and technology services. This acquisition aimed to enhance Sogeti’s presence in the Pacific Northwest and expand its service offerings. Following the acquisition, Redtech’s operations were integrated into Sogeti’s existing structure, and the Redtech brand was phased out.

    Excell Data Corporation(1990, 100M), a Bellevue-based consulting firm, was acquired by Cambridge Technology Partners. Following the acquisition, Excell Data’s operations were integrated into Cambridge Technology Partners, leading to the discontinuation of the Excell Data brand.

    This is just the top of the list. Every single company, beginning with the first one at 22 years old, I have either created or helped build as part of the executive team, has not survived my departure.

    This is not rewarding. Is any business that does not outlive you rewarding? I don’t think so. My relationships have been rewarding. My life experiences have been rewarding. My work in intelligence was extremely rewarding. My intellectual work though, that’s been and remains rewarding – and will outlive me.

    Cheers
    CD

    Source date (UTC): 2024-11-21 02:03:10 UTC

    Original post: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1859417237834301440

  • QUESTION Good morning Curt – I’m a big fan of your work and I had a question abo

    QUESTION
    Good morning Curt – I’m a big fan of your work and I had a question about your recent post regarding what happens when average IQ is raised or lowered in a population.

    While I’m inclined to agree with what you say, I’m curious as to how you’d address the case of black Americans who, seventy years ago, had a lower rate of children born out of wedlock than white Americans. Presumably their average IQ hasn’t dropped 15 points or more in 70 years.

    What other factors may have led to such a degradation and what practical factors can be implemented to restore stability in such communities that have an average IQ below 100?

    ANSWER:
    12:29 PM (0 minutes ago)
    to Sebastian

    Nothing to do with IQ and everything to do with 1) the destruction of the black family by relocation from farms to cities especially during the Johnson Administration and the Great Society movement (Democrats). 2) the no-fault divorce, childsupport, alimony, birth control consequences. In fact a significant number of black americans have achieved lower middle class income and status, with a non-trivial percent achieving middle class status. The problem with lower IQ is the increasing demand for social regulation as the capacity for personal regulation decreases. Is there a solution? I sort of think so, but I’m just getting a handle on this of late.

    Source date (UTC): 2024-11-20 20:30:21 UTC

    Original post: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1859333482251681793