Three Essential Ideas for Exploring Monotropism
Vital concepts for Autistics and ADHDers
Monotropism was originally conceived by Dinah Murray, Wenn Lawson and Mike Lesser as a neuroaffirming theory of autism. Monotropic people, which includes Autistics and ADHDers, focus more of their attention on fewer things at a time compared people who are polytropic and can more easily switch their focus. Research indicates that people who are both Autistic and ADHD tend to be the most monotropic of all.
Some like to describe themselves as Monotropic, rather than with diagnostic labels, as they feel this neuroaffirming term better encapsulates their neurological identity.
If you’re new to monotropism then you could start with the overview in Three Essential Concepts for Understanding Autistic Experience, or delve deeper below.
THE MONOTROPISM QUESTIONNAIRE
Developed by Garau et al. (2023). New accessible version by Ayhan Alman.
The Monotropism Questionnaire was designed to help individuals understand how monotropic they are and to support research into the concept. Those with higher scores are likely to be more monotropic, meaning they devote more attentional resources to a single thing at a time.
Being monotropic can make it easier to become immersed in a project that captures your interest, or to enter a flow state. We may see this in hyperfocus and devotion to hyperfixations or special interests. Transitioning can be extremely difficult.
Those with lower scores are likely to be polytropic, where attentional resources are more evenly spread. This can make it easier to transition from thing throughout the day, but harder to focus deeply and get immersed in a topic. Being monotropic or polytropic therefore brings accompanying strengths and difficulties depending on the environment and situation. Both cognitive styles are necessary for human societies.
This new accessible version of the questionnaire by Ayhan Alman illustrates how you score on different dimensions, as shown in the image above. This can help you gain greater insight into your own strengths and challenges, and may support you in thinking about the types of environments that suit you best and the kinds of accommodations that could be helpful.
You can take a deeper look at some of these occurrences in the article explaining the Map of Monotropic Experiences which was created by Autistic Realms and Stimpunks. They have also produced a free training pack.
MONOTROPIC SPLIT
Named by Tanya Adkin (2022)
Neuronormative assumptions typically assume people are polytropic, and the majority of institutions and environments operate on this basis.
Monotropic people trying to meet these expectations experience attentional trauma. Attempting to replicate the large amount of attention usually given to one thing across many, requires more resources than it’s possible to give. This is known as monotropic split. Unsurprisingly, this enormous cognitive load frequently leads to meltdown or shutdown as the bodymind goes beyond capacity.
Think of school where children are constantly expected to switch their attention from one activity and subject to the next.
Or a job where you’re receiving emails; phone calls; someone’s trying to talk to you in person; and your boss has just announced an unrealistic project deadline.
Or a parent who’s trying to cook dinner while their children all want separate conversations, and there’s a knock on the door, and the cat’s just been sick on the clean washing…
Monotropic split is the cognitive injury that occurs when a monotropic person’s attention is repeatedly and forcibly fractured across demands that exceed their attentional capacity. It is not a symptom of a disorder, it is a predictable outcome of a monotropic mind operating in a world designed for polytropic processing.
- David Gray-Hammond & Tanya Adkin in Lilipadding, Monotropic Split & Autistic Burnout
A study found that Autistic people process an average of 42% more information than allistics at rest. It’s unsurprising that trying to operate in a polytropic way while using so much more energy eventually leads to burnout.
LILIPADDING
Conceptualised by Tanya Adkin (2025)
So what can we do about this, given the reality of the world we live in?
Some monotropic people have the knowledge, ability and privilege to be able to tailor much of their environment to their attentional style. Most haven’t yet heard of the term or gained the language and framework to make sense of their experience. When we do, it can seem like an impossible task to start doing anything about it.
The concept of Lilipadding was framed last year by Tanya Adkin as a way of moving through transitions in a more suitable manner. It’s a relational practice, designed to reduce transitional trauma.
Tanya explains why things like timers which countdown to transitions don’t always work, and can instead be experienced as a “countdown to rupture.”
“They mark the moment where the world will demand movement, whether we’re ready or not. It’s like hearing a trapdoor creak open beneath you. If we consider the moment of transition as a liminal point, then it is that liminal point that causes the anxiety (Gray-Hammond, 2022). Feeling the time countdown to it does not make the transition any less terrifying.
“Timers measure time. But they don’t ease transitions. We need something more relational. More human. This isn’t compatible with monotropic neurology. It’s neuronormativity.”
In contrast, Lilipadding offers a bridge instead of sudden collapse, allowing continuity to be maintained.
“Lilipads sound like: “Lunch in 30 minutes. Do you want to chat about what you fancy eating?”
“They look like: Sitting beside someone while they finish something. Bringing food to the space they’re already in. Asking rather than telling.”
Lilipadding gives us a blueprint to support others and advocate for ourselves. It gives permission to resist neuronormative pressure and replace it with validation. It honours the nature of our attention and ways of being.
Even if you aren’t highly monotropic, it can be extremely difficult to transition out of hyperfocus and flow states. In contrast to behaviourist approaches, Lilipads are there to support not force. They are consent-based and relational, not about compliance.
Monotropic flow states are necessary for, and inherent to, monotropic people, so Lilipads are an affirming way to support continuity and gentle transition instead of forcing rupture.
Lilipadding in Practice
Consider:
What does the person being supported want to be able to do? Eg eat, drink, go to bed, go out.
Is this something that can be brought to them in order to minimise disruption to their flow? Gently offer it to them, body doubling if that is wanted. Choices may feel supportive, or like demands, and can be considered on an individual basis.
Does the transition mean pausing or completely ceasing the current activity? Bringing a drink and gently supporting the person to hydrate is likely to be more straightforward than moving from monotropic flow and transitioning to attending a medical appointment.
What are the person’s individual needs and preferences to ease transitions? While not in a flow state, it might be helpful to discuss these in advance, while recognising that the reality can be different each time.
Using the example of going to an appointment:
- How long would they like the transition to be to make it as easy as possible and avoid a rush or panic?
- Do they want prior reminders that the transition will be starting soon or are they unhelpful?
- Would reminders of what the appointment is for be helpful or anxiety-provoking?
- Would something like music help to ease the transition, or would it be disruptive?
- Would they like their things gathered for them while this is narrated to them or would they like to do it themselves?
- Would they like to be helped into their shoes and coat?
- Could any part of their current activity be taken with them? If not, is there a preferred activity or item that could be?
You can discover even more at monotropism.org.
Further reading
Three Essential Concepts for Understanding Autistic Experience
Accepting and embracing Autistic neurology
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