Is making lists a good thing? AI weighs in.

By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Counselor.

I make a lot of lists. I think it’s one of the things that helps me stay organized and productive, but not all of my family agrees with me. I suggested to a particular family member that they should start making lists. Their immediate response was that they were not retarded or senile, and they definitely did not have autism. This got me to wondering about reasons why something could be both good and bad. Especially when that divided opinion involves making lists.

I had initially planned to write a blog post titled “Why you need to write things down.” But that seemed problematic if, in fact, my penchant for list-making was indicative of some sort of mental pathology. I had one girlfriend a very long, long, time ago who accused me of being autistic or at least on the autism spectrum, but I wrote that appraisal off to her diagnosed mental illnesses. Our conflicted short-term relationship was the start of my going back to school to complete a Master’s degree in counseling and marriage and family therapy.

A brief search for articles on the values and dangers of making lists did not return any conclusive evidence, so I thought I would turn to an ultimate authority. Two efforts to seek a final ultimate opinion resulted in two contradictory lists of reasons. I will need your help deciding which of these authorities is correct.

The authorities I consulted were AI programs. I may have skewed the results somewhat since I had to rewrite the prompt to get 2 different opinions. I asked AI if making lists was a sign of an intelligent, productive person, and I also asked AI if making lists was a sign of mental retardation, autism, or some other mental pathology. Below, you will find the two lists created by AI because of my two different prompts. Please let me know your thoughts about the original question and the two varying AI opinions.

Exhibit 1

Making lists is a sign of high intelligence.

Please create a list of at least twelve reasons why making lists is a sign of high intelligence and a well-organized person.

Certainly! Creating lists can be indicative of high intelligence and organizational skills for several reasons. Here’s a list of twelve reasons:

1. Cognitive Organization: Making lists requires categorizing and organizing thoughts, showcasing the ability to structure information mentally.
2. Prioritization Skills: Lists often involve ranking items in order of importance, demonstrating the ability to prioritize tasks or goals effectively.
3. Memory Enhancement: Writing things down helps in encoding information, aiding memory recall and reducing the cognitive load.
4. Time Management: Lists assist in planning and scheduling, reflecting an awareness of time constraints and the importance of efficient time management.
5. Goal Setting: Creating lists often involves setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals, a key aspect of intelligent goal-setting.
6. Task Completion Tracking: Lists provide a visual representation of progress, allowing individuals to track completed tasks and gain a sense of accomplishment.
7. Clarity of Thought: Organizing thoughts into a list format can enhance clarity and understanding, facilitating more effective communication.
8. Decision-Making Aid: Lists can serve as decision-making tools, helping individuals weigh options and make informed choices based on clear criteria.
9. Stress Reduction: Having a list can alleviate stress by breaking down complex tasks into manageable steps, making daunting projects seem more achievable.
10. Adaptability: Lists can be easily modified and updated, reflecting adaptability and flexibility in responding to changing circumstances.
11. Effective Communication: The ability to convey information concisely and systematically through lists indicates strong communication skills, a hallmark of intelligence.
12. Self-Awareness: Creating lists requires self-reflection and an understanding of personal priorities, showcasing a high level of self-awareness and introspection.

In summary, making lists involves a combination of cognitive skills, organizational abilities, and effective communication, all of which are associated with high intelligence and a well-organized mindset.

Exhibit 2

Making lists is a sign of dementia.

Can making lists be a symptom of dementia or low IQ? Please create a list of reasons why this might be the case.

While making lists is generally associated with positive cognitive traits, in certain situations, it might not be indicative of high intelligence. Here’s a list of reasons why making lists could potentially be a symptom of dementia or low IQ:

1. Difficulty in Sequential Thinking: Individuals with cognitive impairments, such as dementia, may struggle with organizing thoughts sequentially, leading to a reliance on lists as a compensatory strategy.
2. Memory Impairment: Memory loss is a common symptom of dementia, and individuals may use lists as external memory aids to compensate for their cognitive challenges.
3. Lack of Cognitive Flexibility: People with lower cognitive abilities might find it challenging to adapt their thinking and strategies, resulting in a rigid dependence on lists as a coping mechanism.
4. Inability to Prioritize: Difficulty in discerning priorities and setting goals could lead to a constant need for external cues like lists to guide actions.
5. Executive Functioning Deficits: Executive functions, which include skills like planning, organizing, and initiating tasks, can be compromised in individuals with lower cognitive abilities, necessitating the use of lists.
6. Limited Problem-Solving Skills: Those with lower IQ may struggle with problem-solving and decision-making, relying on lists to guide them through tasks instead of independently navigating challenges.
7. Reduced Ability to Synthesize Information: Lower cognitive abilities may hinder the capacity to synthesize information, leading to a reliance on lists as a way to break down complex concepts into simpler components.
8. Difficulty with Abstract Thinking: Creating mental frameworks and abstract thinking might be challenging for individuals with lower cognitive abilities, making lists a more concrete and accessible method of organization.
9. Impaired Verbal Communication: Difficulties in expressing thoughts verbally might lead to a preference for written lists as a means of clearer communication.
10. Limited Working Memory: People with lower cognitive abilities may have a reduced working memory capacity, making it harder to hold and manipulate information mentally, hence relying on external aids like lists.
11. Attention Deficits: Dementia and certain cognitive conditions may lead to attention deficits, making it challenging to focus on tasks without external prompts like lists.
12. Decreased Initiative: Lower motivation and initiative, common in some cases of cognitive decline, may result in a dependence on lists for guidance rather than independent decision-making.

It’s important to note that while these points suggest potential reasons, they are not definitive indicators. Making lists alone is not diagnostic of dementia or low IQ; a comprehensive assessment by healthcare professionals is necessary for an accurate evaluation of cognitive functioning.

Which of the AI experts is correct?

Look at those 2 explanations and feel free to leave a comment weighing in on the question: “List making, is it good or bad?”

Does David Joel Miller see clients for counseling and coaching?

Yes, I do. I can see private pay clients if they live in California, where I am licensed. If you’re interested in information about that, please email me or use the contact me form.

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