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Autism: The Empathizing–Systemizing (E‐S) Theory
Abstract
The mind‐blindness theory of autism spectrum conditions has been successful in explaining the social and communication difficulties that characterize these conditions but cannot explain the nonsocial features (the narrow interests, need for sameness, and attention to detail). A new theory, the empathizing–systemizing (E‐S) theory, is summarized, which argues two factors are needed to explain the social and nonsocial features of the condition. This is related to other cognitive theories such as the weak central coherence theory and the executive dysfunction theory. The E‐S theory is also extended to the extreme male brain theory as a way of understanding the biased sex ratio in autism. Etiological predictions are discussed, as are the clinical applications arising from the E‐S theory.
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“These communication difficulties have been linked to difficulties with ‘theory of mind’, also known as mentalising [25, 26], which is very important for effective communication.”
From A 'choice', an 'addiction', a way 'out of the lost': Exploring self-injury in autistic people without intellectual disability (2019) · cites this paper as [25]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Baron‐Cohen, S.
- Affiliations
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Baron‐Cohen, Simon
- ORCID
- Baron‐Cohen, Simon
- Venue
- Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2009-03
- Volume
- 1156
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 68-80
- ISSN
- 0077-8923 (ISSN-L)
- 1749-6632
- OpenAlex
- W2028758511
- Cited by
- 830
- References
- 79
- Citations by year
- 2026: 43 · 2025: 53 · 2024: 58 · 2023: 48 · 2022: 41 · 2021: 73 · 2020: 42 · 2019: 76 · 2018: 65 · 2017: 51 · 2016: 55 · 2015: 43 · 2014: 51 · 2013: 37 · 2012: 37
- FWCI
- 2.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation
- Research Councils UK
- Medical Research Council
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, empathizing-systemizing theory, social cognition, weak central coherence, executive dysfunction, extreme male brain theory, sex ratio bias, autism etiology, clinical application
- MeSH terms
- Autistic Disorder, Empathy, Humans, Models, Biological, Models, Theoretical, Psychological Tests
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