Language
Country/Area
No result found
The Secret Behind Autism: Why Many Call It an 'Extreme Male Brain'
Autism is considered a diverse neurodevelopmental disorder, and the psychological mechanisms behind it are still not fully explained. Among them, the psychological theory "Empathy-Systemizing (E-S)" proposed by Simon Baron-Cohen provides a new idea for autism and the neurological differences between genders. This theory deeply explores the issue of autonomy in autism and introduces the concept of "extreme male brain" to further analyze the characteristics of autism.
"The male brain is systematizing, while the female brain is empathic... Asperger syndrome represents the extreme male brain."
According to the E-S theory, the intellectual characteristics of individuals can be distinguished based on their abilities in empathy (E) and systematization (S). This theory holds that autistic people are deficient in empathy and, conversely, are relatively superior in systematization. Studies have shown that the E>S pattern is generally more common in women than in men, while the S>E pattern is usually more pronounced in men.
The development of this theory helps explain why many people with autism have difficulty socializing and communicating. Especially in the extremely important interpersonal skill of "empathy", there is a significant disadvantage, which makes them feel challenged in social interactions.
Background and evolution of E-S theory
Baron-Cohen proposed the E-S theory in 2002 in an attempt to re-understand the psychological differences between genders. He believes that the neurotransmission difficulties seen in autism reflect female advantages in some cognitive areas and male advantages in others. It is worth noting that this theory is not the first time that gender differences have been discussed. The "mind blindness" theory proposed by Baron-Cohen as early as 1990 focused on the lack of empathy theory.
"Men generally perform better on systemizing, while women score higher on empathy."
Baron-Cohen's research shows that while socialization factors exist, biological differences may also be one of the key factors affecting autism. Specifically, testosterone levels during fetal life have been shown to be associated with increased systemizing skills and a lack of cognitive empathy. This idea has spawned a new area of research examining the role of testosterone in autism.
Further research and evidence
Baron-Cohen further explored the theory in 2018 with data sampling more than half a million people and found the theory to be robust. The discovery of this data has attracted widespread attention in the academic community, especially in cases of autism, the rate of males is much higher than that of females, which provides more convincing support for the theory of "extreme male brains."
"Testosterone levels during fetal life play a key role in shaping neurological development, which may be the biological basis of sex differences in autism."
In Baron-Cohen's extreme male brain theory, autism is seen as an extreme manifestation of male characteristics, that is, the male's expertise in systematization is strengthened in autism. Researchers have found that in certain thinking processes of autistic patients, certain brain structures show similar characteristics to those of traditional male brains - such as abnormalities in the connectivity of corpus callosum and brain region characteristics .
Cultural and social impact
Although the E-S theory has attracted widespread attention and discussion in the understanding of autism, it has also encountered a lot of criticism. Critics say the theory may reinforce gender stereotypes and may fail to adequately account for the diversity of autism. In particular, some scholars question that the concept of "extreme male brain" oversimplifies the actual situation of autistic patients.
"This theory may prompt us to realize the diversity of autism spectrum, rather than just dichotomy on empathy or systemizing."
Sociologists have also expressed their views on this, denouncing the possible bias of this theory in certain cultural backgrounds. Some people believe that some of the advantages women have in social performance are precisely their ability to communicate and empathize, and these abilities may be interpreted as "female superiority."
Despite its limitations, the E-S theory provides a new perspective on our deeper understanding of autism and causes people to rethink the role of gender in psychology and neurobiology. So, can we find more effective ways to understand these broad and complex phenomena between sex differences and autistic traits?
