Exteme male brain theory 'unhelpful'

Say's Simon Baron Cohen, the man who came up wth the phrase in the first place has said in an interview with the Guardian. He believes that it's not been helpful, or saying that autistic people lack empathy, when what we really have is often problems knowing what people are thinking or feeling from facial expressions, but have no lack of empathy regarding peoples feelings once they know what they are. He has also acknowleged that the terms "male and female" brains dosen't really mean anything.

I'm glad he's said this and I hope it clears up some of the misconceptions about us.

Parents
  • I could never understand,  why people hurry to comfort someone instead of actually helping them solve the problem (if possible). For me someone has to tell me what they are feeling, but once I know, I'm not indifferent to that.

  • Sometimes people just want a rant, they've had a crap day, inanimate objects ganging up on them, inconsiderate drivers, late buses etc and the best thing one can do is agree with them, there isn't anything to be fixed as such or if there is then the right tools to use are on either side of the head, the ears. However if there is something thats not working then someone trying to help solve the problem is really good, as long as you don't ask them if the've tried the obvious. I get shouted at by people who want to help me, but seem to treat me like a 5 year old asking really simple questions. I think the balance is accepting others are intelligent human beings who've tried solving something to the best of their ability and now need something a bit more specialised.

Reply
  • Sometimes people just want a rant, they've had a crap day, inanimate objects ganging up on them, inconsiderate drivers, late buses etc and the best thing one can do is agree with them, there isn't anything to be fixed as such or if there is then the right tools to use are on either side of the head, the ears. However if there is something thats not working then someone trying to help solve the problem is really good, as long as you don't ask them if the've tried the obvious. I get shouted at by people who want to help me, but seem to treat me like a 5 year old asking really simple questions. I think the balance is accepting others are intelligent human beings who've tried solving something to the best of their ability and now need something a bit more specialised.

Children
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