The Psychology Book (94 page)

DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 299

See also:
Roger W. Sperry 337–38 ■ Heinz Heckhausen 338–39 ■ Michael Rutter 339

The
male brain
is

The
female brain
is

predominantly hard-wired

predominantly hard-wired

for understanding and

for empathy.

building systems.

Simon Baron-Cohen

Autistic people are obsessed with

understanding and
working with systems
,

Born in London, Simon

but do not have the
“tools” for empathy
.

Baron-Cohen qualified as a

clinical psychologist at London

University’s Institute of

Psychiatry, and took his PhD

at University College, London.

In 1995, he became a fellow

Autism is an extreme form

in experimental psychology at

of the male brain.

Trinity College, Cambridge,

and is currently the university’s

Professor of Developmental

Psychopathology and director

have a “systematizing brain,” while

are centered on some form of system,

of its Autism Research Centre,

where his work involves

many people have a “balanced”

such as an intense preoccupation

investigating ways of treating

brain of equal abilities.

with light switches. They focus on

autism, as well as research

tiny details in the system, working

into possible causes.

Theory of mind

out the underlying rules that govern

His many accolades include

Baron-Cohen believes that autistic

it, or home in on a specific topic,

the President’s Award and

people lack a “theory of mind”—the

learning everything about it with

Spearman Medal from the

ability to interpret others’ emotions

great accuracy. This mix of little or

British Psychological Society,

and actions successfully—and so

no empathy and an obsession with

plus the Boyd McCandless

are unable to assess another’s state

systems, along with the higher rate

Award from the American

of mind or intentions. Also, they

of autism in males, led Baron-Cohen

Psychological Association.

often have obsessive interests that

to conclude that autistic people have

From 2009 to 2011, Baron-

an extreme “male” brain.

Cohen served as vice-president

Autism is one of the most severe

of the International Society of

psychiatric disorders in children,

Autism Research, and is also

and Baron-Cohen’s ideas have

vice-president of the National

Autistic Society (UK).

helped to deepen understanding of

the condition, raising awareness and

Key works

making treatment more effective. ■

1993
Autism: The Facts

Autistic children
sometimes show

1995
Mindblindness

remarkable aptitude in certain areas,

1999
Teaching Children with

especially those that demand acute

Autism to Mind-Read

observation of fine detail, such as

2003
The Essential Difference

mathematics, drawing, and painting.

PSYCHOL

OF DIFFE

PERSONALITY AND

INTELLIGENCE

OGY

RENCE