Two seemingly opposite patterns in AS that both stem from the same underlying difficulties: **Risk aversion:** Many with AS are extremely averse to trying new things. Three drivers: 1. **Perfectionism** — need to appear perfect to guard against low self-esteem 2. **Low self-esteem** — undermines confidence to try 3. **Fear of failure** — a successful executive: "My whole life has been based on the fear of failure" Also: lack of curiosity/drive to explore; narrow fixed interests (one woman spent 31 years of vacations collecting lichen in the Rockies). **Impulsive behavior** (from Barbara Jacobs' *Loving Mr. Spock*): Danny's pattern — when situations tumbled into disaster, he dropped everything and threw himself into a new venture or moved to a new location. This stems from executive function deficits: difficulty planning and executing ideas leads to failures, which trigger impulsive escape into new situations, which then fail again. Managing risk: ask "what's the worst that can happen?"; plan what you'd do if worst happens; remind yourself everyone needs a learning curve. **Source:** Lovett, *Solutions for Adults with Asperger Syndrome*, Ch 7 (pp189-192) See also: [[Executive Function in AS]], [[Resistance to Change in AS]]