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#1
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Simon Baron-Cohen is the director of the Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University. He has a theory:
Are there essential differences between the male and female brain? My theory is that the female brain is predominantly hard-wired for empathy, and that the male brain is predominantly hard-wired for understanding and building systems. I call it the empathising-systemising (E-S) theory.Baron-Cohen acknowledges some concerns about his theory: Should a theory like this be a cause of concern? Some people may worry that this is suggesting one sex is better than the other, but a moment's reflection should allay this fear. The theory is saying that, on average, males and females differ in what they are drawn to and what they find easy, but that both sexes have their strengths and their weaknesses. Neither sex is superior overall.Baron-Cohen attempts to use his theory to explain Autism spectrum conditions: Is there an explanation for autism?So, how male or female is your brain? Simon Baron-Cohen has developed an empathy quotient test: http://www.genderdynamix.co.za/compo...thy/Itemid,206 and a systemizing quotient test: http://www.genderdynamix.co.za/compo...ing/Itemid,206 Were you surprised with the results? In a recent article entitled, Why a lack of empathy is the root of all evil, Baron-Cohen argues, "From casual violence to genocide, acts of cruelty can be traced back to how the perpetrator identifies with other people ..." and gives this example: Lucy Adeniji – an evangelical Christian and author of two books on childcare – trafficked two girls and a 21-year-old woman from Nigeria to work as slaves in her east London home. She made them toil for 21 hours a day and tortured them if they displeased her. The youngest girl was 11 years old.Baron-Cohen goes on to explain his thesis. There also is some push back that provides a bit of balance. I found it interesting Baron-Cohan has a woman doing the deeds. I have placed a trigger icon because of the reference to "evil" that previously was intensely discussed. Baron-Cohen's thesis is interesting to me since I also recently came across an article that again correlates testosterone with aggression and risk-taking. http://blogs.psychcentral.com/healin...gender-divide/ Theories about human behavior abound. I some times wonder if we are gaining on our understanding. |
![]() Gus1234U, We_do_recover
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#2
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23/35... Yup, I'm Aspi
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__________________
There’s been many a crooked path that has landed me here Tired, broken and wearing rags Wild eyed with fear -Blackmoores Night |
#3
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this is quite interesting byz. i've got to research more what my scores indicate. 55 on first test, 23 on 2nd test. oh dear i hope i fall into some type of norm.
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__________________
Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours..~Ayn Rand |
#4
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That is interesting. I think this gives a little more explanation to the recent study showing that people in the sciences are higher up on the autism scale. Being in the sciences requires more of a systematic way of thinking rather than empathy. Just as social and human sciences or the arts is the opposite. And people in those areas are typically less likely to be as high up on the autism scale as people in analytical sciences - i.e. math, chemistry, biology.
This may be some sort of explanation for why there are more men in the sciences rather than women - and vise versa for the empathetic areas. However, I think this is kind of common knowledge that women and men are wired differently. The fact that it could be linked to autism though, is a cool theory. |
#5
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madisgram it suggests you have a pretty strongly female wired brain... If I understand it correctly.
__________________
There’s been many a crooked path that has landed me here Tired, broken and wearing rags Wild eyed with fear -Blackmoores Night |
![]() Gus1234U
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#6
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It is an interesting way to look at autism.
It can also explain why women and men are constantly arguing " Emotionality verses systemizing " Ahhhh I can hear those words "You just don't get it" coming from a man and a woman having a debate. LOL It is a good way to understand our differences and maximize on a joint overall capacity for achievement. And we can even see it in nature if we look at the different roles male and females have in reproduction and raising offspring. I am also wondering about how these differences effect other disorders or personal issues as well. Perhaps treatments for depression, PTSD, and other issues that plague us need to be treated based on these E, S, or B type personalities. For example if a woman goes to a male psychologist and they are two different types it may not work as well in the therapy process. And that could be significant and should be examined further. There is much here to ponder. Open Eyes |
![]() Gus1234U
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#7
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Theodora, look at the graph at the end of the tests. 57/57 looks like it would fall along the border of either a balanced brain of a slightly systematic brain.
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![]() Gus1234U
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#8
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Kewl, I'm balanced! 63/37
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#9
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Your Empathy Quotient is 25
Your Systemizing Quotient is 36. That would make me aspie, I think... which makes sense. I was diagnosed autistic as a young child.
__________________
Here I sit so patiently Waiting to find out what price You have to pay to get out of Going through all these things twice. |
#10
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Well, I got a EQ of 44 and a SQ of 37 So from what I see it looks like I am balanced with a slight strength in the SQ. I wonder what I would have scored before I tumbled into PTSD because I am not as motivated/driven as I used to be. Hmmm
And some questions I didn't feel one way or the other, I was more neutral so the EQ may not be exact. Open Eyes |
#11
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Empathy: 55
Systemizing: 36 Balanced Thanks for the links. ![]() |
#12
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Glenn Rowe has a brief bit about Baron-Cohen and adds links to Baron-Cohen's Autism Spectrum quotient test and Mind in the eyes test
Rowe also adds some general information links to Asperger Syndrome and Autism. http://glennrowe.net/BaronCohen.aspx |
#13
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Empathy Quotient: 23
Systemizing Quotient: 45 Looking at the chart this puts me in the Extreme Type S in the lower right section of the grid. Earlier I Took the AQ test also which I scored a 35 on. I am very likely an Aspie as the Aspie quiz said too. |
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