ProfessorSimonBaron-Cohenspresentation.pptVIP

Is autism an extremeof the male brain? Simon Baron-Cohen Autism Research Centre Cambridge University Triad of difficulties Social Communication Imagining others minds Empathizing Triad of strengths Islets of obsessions repetitive ability with systems behaviour Systemizing The autistic spectrum: two subgroups Classic autism Any point on the IQ scale Involves language delay Asperger Syndrome Individuals of normal IQ or above No language delay Genetics of autism Twin studies Sibling risk rates The ‘broader phenotype’ Autism: the sex ratio  Autism spectrum: 4:1 (male:female) Asperger Syndrome: 9:1 Hans Asperger (1944) “The autistic personality is an extreme variant of male intelligence… In the autistic individual the male pattern is exaggerated to the extreme” Sex vs. Gender Pre 1960’s: ‘Gender’ referred to the inflection of nouns 1972: John Money distinguished ‘sex’ from ‘gender’ The John/Joan case (David Reimer) (1965-2004) Today in the US: ‘gender’ has replaced ‘sex’, as if it is a synonym (At least) 6 ways to think about sex Chromosomal sex Gonadal sex Brain sex Gender identity Gender behaviour Sexual orientation Sex differences in the mind: the classical view Spatial ability (right hemisphere) males females Language (left hemisphere) females males Mathematical ability males females Two psychological processes Empathizing (E) identify a person’s thoughts and feelings respond to these with an appropriate emotion Systemizing (S) analyse or build a system mechanical, natural, abstract, collectible Different profiles S E : more common in males? E S : more common in females? S E : more common in autism? Empathizing Systemizing The Empathy Quotient (EQ): examples I really enjoy caring for people People often tell me I went too far in driving my point home in a discussion The Empathy Quotient (max = 80) mean sd Females 47.2 10.2 Males 41.8 11.2 AS 20.4 11.6 The Systemizing Quotient (SQ)