Pattern-Seeking

Temple Grandin and Richard Panek write,

Michael Shermer, a psychologist, historian of science, and professional skeptic – he founded Skeptic magazine — called this property of the human mind patternicity. He defined patternicity as “the tendency to find meaningful patterns in both meaningful and meaningless data.”

What all these examples tell me is that in society, the three kinds of minds — visual, verbal, pattern thinkers — naturally complement one another. When I recall collaborations in which I’ve successfully participated, I can see how different kinds of thinkers worked together to create a product that was greater than the sum of its parts.

I don’t know why it is written in the first person. I suppose that means that the thoughts belong to Grandin?

Anyway, finding meaningful patterns in both meaningful and meaningless data, which Grandin says describes people on the autistic spectrum, might also describe macroeconomists.