Simon Baron-Cohen: Aspergers Less Empathetic than Psycopaths

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Agreed: the more I read what psychologists say about "us" the more obvious it is that they are talking about themselves!

Some new research shows Simon Baron-Cohen's theory is false: http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt253385.html

Thanks for the link: also came across study of EEGs finding a definite difference between Asperger's and Autism.
www.aspiemanifesto.blogspot.com

Well since many of us find S. B-C wrong why not email him?

http://www.psychol.cam.ac.uk/directory/ ... aron-cohen

When I wrote him once, telling him that I was an aspie, he was quick to respond.

What did you write him about and what did he say?

Just on the 27 genes that he found in a study he did that people with aspergers had a mix of. I brought up that if people such as Darwin, Einstein, and Newton supposedly had ASDs that they should be tested and it would be interesting, because many scientists have aspie like tendencies, to find out if the 27 genes had anything to do with intelligence.

Ah, the double-edged sword of Simon Baron-Cohen.

On the one hand, he's a prolific energizer bunny of research. On the other hand, he may not always be able to see the trees for the forest.

The entire discourse on empathy irks me because my experience has always been closer to what is described by the Intense World Theory.

(http://www.spring.org.uk/2014/02/intens ... t-rest.php). The original article on the Markham's study is "The Intense World Theory – A Unifying Theory of the Neurobiology of Autism" (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3010743/).

The gist of the theory is that instead of our being low- or non-affected, we are actually hypo-affected by empathetic emotion.

Of course, I have a problem with the theory as it stands because the authors may be just as blind to non-conforming data as Simon-Cohen sometimes is -- the trees for the forest problem. This blind side can produce treatment suggestions too early. Meanwhile, being able to truly call something a unifying theory (which they've done) needs time and evidence. Plus, for my money at this point, any theory on autism needs approval by the autistic community.

So, while I reject some (many?) of Baron-Cohen's conclusions, I also see that he is at least trying to do something. I have a sneaking suspicion that he likes his renown, and as with any human who gains a certain celebrity, this can lead to a 'personal agenda infection' resulting in poor decisions.

weeOne: I agree that the Intense World Theory is much closer to my experiences as an Asperger, and the true problem with all this research is the no one ASKS US what's going on. We're not lab rats - we're human beings who are perfectly able to speak about our experiences.

The research approach is so close-minded: there is not merely one way to be human; we're proof of that. I see a near-religious insistence that it's 'my way or the highway' in psychology. Another problem is, where are these billions of 'normal' people hiding? I just don't know anyone who lives up to these research standards!

People here are very selective, we like the good things said about AS and accept them unquestionably. Simon Baron-Cohen is the same guy who has hypothesized that a lot of geniuses of the past were either aspie or aspie-like, which someone above has just posted and most here rarely question, but actually trumpet it. But his theory about empathy is completely rejected because you think it doesn't suit you. It's the same whenever people talk about a lack of imaginative play in children with autism - everyone wants the good stuff, but none of the bad. We want to think of ourselves as highly imaginative and highly empathic people, but uniquely eccentric and oh-so-different from those boring normals.

^ The above sentence is what I see posted around on this forum.

Empathy is reading people, and a lot of people with autism including myself have a huge deficit in this area. Sympathy and compassion I definitely feel, but I'm not good with empathizing. Which does make people think that I can't sympathize.

Acedia: We're not talking about Autism here, but Asperger's. Your statement isn't factual; you can't generalize about "everyone" who posts. We are individuals who have our specific symptoms and experiences. Please don't attempt to speak for me or any other individual. Speak for yourself - that's what is genuine.

My blog is my blog: I say what I think and I post information from other people too. I ask questions; Asperger people need to stand up for ourselves and not just accept the downright nasty and incorrect things people say about us. I take responsibility for my ideas and how I live my life: I'm no victim.

This I think gives a more accurate picture:

http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt253550.html

Some lip-service is given to Baron-Cohen in the article, but overall, I think the theory about people with ASD and schizophrenia spectrum disorders having a disturbance in embodied interaction and having to rely on theory of mind much more so than neurotypical people provides a far better explanation.