Introduction -  7

Language and culture -  11

Patterns of Perception -  16
   Scene 1 of The Lockstep Tragedy -  16
   Pattern 1. Desensitization -  19
   Pattern 2. Symbolic filtering  -  21
   Pattern 3. Multi-focus -  25
   Pattern 4. Sensory integration -  26
   Recap -  27

Patterns of Belief and Learning -  29
   Scene 2 of The Lockstep Tragedy -  30
   Pattern 5. Thinking in words -  32
   Pattern 6. The belief web -  35
   Pattern 7. Perception limited to existing beliefs -  37
   Pattern 8. Social reality -  38
   Scene 3 of The Lockstep Tragedy -  40
   Pattern 9. Free-floating symbols -  43
   Pattern 10. Liquid truth -  46
   Pattern 11. Lumping -  49
   Scene 4 of The Lockstep Tragedy -  51
   Pattern 12. Attrition -  54
   Pattern 13. Forest-first learning -  56
   Pattern 14. Certainty -  58
   Pattern 15. Social learning -  60
   Pattern 16. Lockstep learning -  61
   Pattern 17. Holistic training -  63
   Pattern 18. Mapping between time and space -  65
   Pattern 19. Going through the motions -  65
   Recap -  67
   A more general recap -  68

Patterns of Communication  -  70
   Scene 5 of The Lockstep Tragedy -  70
   Pattern 20. Multi-level communication -  73
   Pattern 21. Stretching out the message -  76
   Pattern 22. Influential communication -  78
   Pattern 23. Small talk -  79
   Pattern 24. Fast, fluid communication -  80
   Pattern 25. Inferring by association -  81
   Pattern 26. Drawings of associations -  83
   Pattern 27. Behavioral shortcuts -  86
   Pattern 28. Indirection -  87
   Recap -  92

Patterns of Feelings and Display -  93
   Scene 6 of The Lockstep Tragedy -  94
   Pattern 29. Identity from group -  97
   Pattern 30. Intentional display -  98
   Pattern 31. Personality construction -  102
   Pattern 32. Delusional self-awareness -  103
   Pattern 33. Value judgments -  104
   Pattern 34. Make-feel  -  105
   Scene 7 of The Lockstep Tragedy -  106
   Pattern 35. Confidence -  109
   Pattern 36. Common sense -  110
   Pattern 37. Groupfeel -  112
   Pattern 38. Repression -  113
   Pattern 39. Projection -  115
   Pattern 40. Denial -  117
   Pattern 41. Displacement -  118
   Pattern 42. Rebellion -  118
   Pattern 43. Desert -  119
   Pattern 44. Relational emotions -  120
   Recap -  122

Patterns of Relationships & Power -  123
   Scene 8 of The Lockstep Tragedy -  124
   Pattern 45. Friends and enemies -  127
   Pattern 46. Categorized, scripted relationships -  128
   Pattern 47. Rank -  131
   Pattern 48. Lying & manipulation -  132
   Pattern 49. Reputation -  134
   Pattern 50. Conflict -  134
   Pattern 51. Power and threats -  137
   Pattern 52. Identity threats -  138
   Pattern 53. Winning -  139
   Pattern 54. The ultimate pattern -  141
   Pattern 55. Confidence battling -  144
   Pattern 56. Altruism -  145
   Scene 9 of The Lockstep Tragedy -  146
   Pattern 57. Symbolic sex -  147
   Pattern 58. Intimacy levels -  153
   Pattern 59. The sexual tease -  156
   Pattern 60. Affairs -  160
   Pattern 61. Forced sex -  161
   Scene 10 of The Lockstep Tragedy -  163
   Pattern 62. Socializing -  167
   Recap -  169

Phenomena -  171
   Ethnic labels -  171
   Subculture & Counterculture -  172
   The plan -  173
   Religion -  175
   Gender -  175
   Maturity -  177
   Brands and retail -  178
   Credentials -  180
   Music -  180
   Fashion and clothing -  180
   Politics -  181
   Hate crimes -  182
   Economy -  183
   Identity laws -  184
   Sports -  185
   Social venues -  185
   Children -  186
   Pathology & Disability -  188

What's an autie to do? -  192
   What is autism anyway? -  192
   A note about the "spectrum" -  197
   Simplicity and authenticity -  201
   The meaning of meaning -  202
   Why you will generally lose -  204
   Why normal therapy might not work -  205
   What therapy works? -  210
   Loneliness -  211
   Special interests -  215
   Final advice -  217