Is there a word or phrase that describes the following condition?
Once you have an idea, you are incapable of letting go of it until you have explored it fully, that is, explored every conceivable branch from the idea and reached all possible logical conclusions (after which you can finally put it down and continue your day).
The word that comes to my mind is simply obsession
the domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, desire, etc.
Is there a word or phrase that describes the following condition?
Once you have an idea, you are incapable of letting go of it until you have explored every conceivable branch from the idea and reached all possible logical conclusions.
Inspired by terminology from risk analysis and decision science as well as the language and framework of Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) cognitive styles
indeed, INTJs can hardly rest until they have things settled, decided, and set. They are the people who are able to formulate coherent and comprehensive contingency plans, hence contingency organizers
the following phrases capture the anticipatory and closure-driven aspects of the trait that you are describing:
To actually characterise the trait as a condition, you could instead call it
A related term, from psychology, is "monotropism", which is neither as precise nor particularly accurate to the OP's specific description:
Monotropism is an individual's tendency to focus their attention on a small or singular number of interests at any time, with them neglecting or not perceiving lesser interests.
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A tendency to focus attention tightly has a number of psychological implications, with it being seen as a state of "tunnel vision".
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this form of hyperfocus makes it harder to redirect attention
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Finally, I think that the commenter-suggested "idée fixe" (literally, "fixed idea") crucially fails to capture the OP's core notion of generative rumination—specifically, one that cascades and branches exhaustively. Besides, this suggestion is even more loaded than the final bullet above.
Tangential; too long as a comment
I found a lot of ancillary utility in reading your answer. Particularly amusing to me was the fact that MBTI is considered psuedoscientific, yet the profile description above summarises my personality traits to a tee.
Thanks for the kind note. MBTI classifies normative cognitive/learning preferences by how individuals are most naturally inclined to engage with information (pattern-oriented vs. concrete; outward-focused vs. inward-focused) and make decisions (values-based vs. logic-based; structured vs. holistic); specifically, the interaction of these two two-dimensional factors yields 16 non-uniformly distributed cognitive patterns.
Outside the physical sciences, scientific rigour exists on a spectrum; wherever MBTI ultimately sits, the charges of pseudoscience are understandable. The framework's four dichotomies are unfortunately named ("Introversion-Extraversion", "Sensing-Intuition", "Thinking-Feeling", "Judging-Perceiving"), and its four-letter labelling system perpetuates two key misunderstandings that contribute to an impression of reductive caging: that the four dichotomies are unrelated dimensions rather than functionally interlocked, and that the model implies that cognitive tendencies have invariant expressions across contexts and regardless of ongoing developmental change.
Fixated ideation is the answer to my question.
Fixated ideation differs from ideated fixation (Idée fixe) in that Idée fixe can not progress past a thought or generate new ideas. Fixated ideation is about being hyperfocused on your rumination and following a branch analysis of the idea, its consequences and any new ideas that spawn as a result of that rumination.
The only source I could find for this answer was from AI. Which provided the following response:
Fixated ideation is a mental state where an individual has an obsessive, consuming focus on a single thought or idea that is difficult to let go of. This can manifest as rumination or intrusive thoughts and may be a symptom of a mental health condition like OCD, ADHD, or anxiety. The fixation can lead to distress, anxiety, and an inability to disengage from the thought, even if it is unproductive or nonsensical.
Key characteristics
Obsessive focus: A persistent and often unwanted preoccupation with a specific thought, idea, or topic.
Difficulty disengaging: The individual finds it hard to stop thinking about the topic, and it can interfere with daily life.
Intrusive thoughts: These are unwelcome, upsetting thoughts that can feel out of a person's control.
Rumination: A form of thought fixation that involves repeatedly thinking about problems, often in a negative cycle.
Psychological and physiological impact: Fixation can lead to stress and anxiety due to the over-activation of brain regions associated with emotion, and it can interfere with higher-level thinking and problem-solving.
When it becomes a problem
When the fixation is persistent and causes significant distress. When it prevents a person from completing tasks or interferes with their ability to function in daily life.
When the fixation is associated with other mental health conditions, such as OCD, anxiety, depression, or ADHD.
How to cope
Distraction: Engage in activities that are mentally or physically intensive, or sensation-rich, to help break the thought loop.
Mindfulness: Practice focusing on the present moment without judgment.
Cognitive restructuring: Work on reinterpreting thoughts, particularly after a mistake, to avoid getting stuck in a negative cycle.
Seek professional help: A mental health professional can provide strategies and therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to address the underlying causes of the fixation.
