The Essential Difference: Male and Female Brains and the Truth about Autism

by Simon Baron-Cohen

Book Overview

We all appreciate that there are differences in the typical psychology of men and women. Yet underlying these subtle differences, Simon Baron-Cohen believes, there is one essential difference, and it affects everything we do: Men have a tendency to analyze and construct systems while women are inclined to empathize. With fresh evidence for these claims, Baron-Cohen explores how these sex differences arise more from biological than cultural...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 046500556X
• ISBN13: 9780465005567
• Release Date: August 2004
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 271 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Fascinating and illuminating

Of the 30 or so books I've read in the last two years on brain-based behavior, this ranks at the top of the list. Not only is it engagingly and compassionately written, but Baron-Cohen seems to empathize well with the careful reader, anticipating questions and objections as they arise and addressing them clearly. I find his scientific research solid and painstakingly presented, far beyond what psychologists typically provide. Those who criticize the author for compartmentalizing men and women didn't even read the book, I suspect. That is so far off the beam. Some adults with Asperger's (and parents of Aspie kids) do have an ax to grind -- and they grind it loudly. They feel they or their children are the ones with the "normal" -- even "gifted" -- brains and it is everyone else who acts abnormally. This defensiveness seems an obvious reaction to being so misunderstood. One can see their point more clearly after reading books like this. To those living with partners, parents, or children who are higher on the autistic spectrum, this book bridges a gap to understanding and, in many cases, healing hurts. If we expect "normal" levels of empathy from these loved ones, we set ourselves up for hurt because the lower-than-average level of empathy feels intentional, personal. Or, as a non-neuroscience-savvy therapist might say, "withholding." If we understand the differences, however, we can appreciate the good points and set aside expectations that only hurt and alienate everyone. [...]

A gem!

Before you start reading Baron-Cohen's fascinating book, go through the questionaire in the first appendix. The questionaire, "Reading the Mind in the Eyes," has thirty-six photos cropped to show only the region around the eyes. By looking only at this small portion of the face, you have to figure out the emotion being expressed by the individual in the photo. Chance would give only one out of four right answers. As Baron-Cohen remarks in the text, most people, when they take the quiz, find it extremely difficult -- one feels like one is guessing. In fact, nearly everyone does much better than he or she expected. I got nearly two-thirds correct, and most people do even better. This little quiz demonstrates one of the key points in the book: normal humans have an incredible ability to read the expressions, feelings, etc. of their fellow human beings from very subtle clues. Baron-Cohen's thesis in his earlier book, "Mindblindness," was that autistic persons are simply people who lack this normal human "mind-reading" ability. "The Essential Difference" expands this thesis to argue that, in this respect, autistic people are simply at a far end of a spectrum. Females (with numerous individual exceptions) tend towards the opposite end of the spectrum from autistic people: females are usually good empathizers, skilled at "mind-reading." Males tend to be less good at empathizing compared to females and better at "systemizing." Autistic people (who are predominantly male) lie at the extreme male end of the spectrum -- extraordinarily poor empathizers, good systemizers. The author proves this case beyond reasonable doubt by both covering the scientific evidence and wittily discussing case studies. He focuses particularly on "high-functioning autism" and "Asperger's syndrome," exemplified by people who have normal to high intelligence and are able to function to some degree in normal society but who nonetheless exhibit a significant degree of mind-blindness. So is there anything wrong with the book? Baron-Cohen leans over backwards to emphasize that individuals who lean towards the high-systemizing/low-empathizing end of the spectrum are not deficient human beings or uncaring monsters. He states explicitly, "People with autism are often the most loyal defenders of someone they perceive to be suffering an injustice." Yet, in other places in the book, he suggests that it is easier for those who tend towards systemizing rather than empathizing to commit rape or murder! The problem is an ambiguity in the word "empathy." On the one hand, it means the ability to read another's mood, to decode subtle cues of face, tone of voice, etc. As Baron-Cohen puts it, "Empathizing is about spontaneously and naturally tuning into the other person's thoughts and feelings..." But, an alternative sense of "empathy" refers to an individual's ability to imaginatively put himself in the other person's position, to imagine how he himself would feel were he subjec

Separate, but Equal

After a lengthy and unwarranted disclaimer that his work isn't "sexist" [whatever that is], Baron-Cohen surveys the foundations of male and female minds. With a long clinical and teaching career, supported by an immense list of studies, he concludes that, in general, there are indeed "essential differences" in cognitive makeup between human genders. While there is a spectrum of characteristics, certain general frameworks exist attributable to men and women. For ease of analysis, he suggests that women are more empathic ["E" personalities] while men are more systematic ["S" personalities]. Each, he insists, has their role, with most people placed well within a median between extremes. The trends, however, are clear.In a chatty style he likely uses speaking with patients, Baron-Cohen shows that women's empathic tendencies give them the power to quickly assess others' emotional states. Women more readily identify feelings in others, respond appropriately when sympathy is required and "reach out" in dealing with people. He stresses that this "intuitive sense" among women is almost universal and is rightfully well-regarded by all cultures. Men, on the other hand, operate under the need to understand "systems", organized conditions, mechanics, technology and are thus driven to know "how things work". This urge leads them away from the intimacy women have with others and, in the more extreme cases, are likely to become "loners". The most outstanding examples are those suffering from autism which is overwhelmingly a male condition. Baron-Cohen has spent years studying autism, offering a range of examples. It may appear amusing that a five-year-old boy may be capable of memorizing dozens of car registrations and explain which car belongs to which house, but there are other factors to consider. Such boys grow into men who cannot readily converse, directly or over the telephone. They become the butt of teasing or hostility at their "withdrawn" state. If lacking compensation in other areas, such as a vocation that allows them to apply a narrow focus to tasks, they risk ostracism from society. Baron-Cohen offers an exceptional case of a mathematician whose genius brought him high awards, but who may fail to keep a lunch date due to some distraction. These are real problems affecting real people. Some of them may be your neighbours. One of them might even, unknowingly, be you.This book challenges much misled thinking that has permeated gender studies over the past generation. Gender differences in outlook appear within a day of birth. Newborns shown a photograph of a face, or an object composed of facial elements resulted in girls preferring the face while the boys tended to select the object. This early division Baron-Cohen thinks may result from the testosterone surge baby boys undergo in the womb. "Maleness" and brain development are interlocked and continue to manifest with development. Baby girls, on the other hand, follow a differ

Interesting perspective!

This book makes an interesting journey from the research on male-female brain differences to a model of autism. The author suggests that autism reflects an "extreme male" brain. Although it is readily emphasized that there are significant differences within people of each gender, it is suggested that while females on the average have greater levels of empathy, males tend to have stronger "systematizing" abilities. It is suggested that autism can be understood as a combination of very high levels of systematization coupled with low levels of empathy.The book cites a large number of studies of brain physiology and behavior to illustrate the phenomena discussed. This discussion is coupled with strong cautions against stereotyping and a recognition of individual differences. Ironically, the main part of the book--the chapter explicitly develops the thesis of autism as a reflection of an "extreme male" brain--is a bit on the skimpy side, but this is understandable given that previous chapters have alluded to what is to come.The appendices to this book are a real treasure! Included are photos that serve as a test of one's ability to recognize the emotions expressed by a person's eyes and a number of scales that can be used to measure empathy levels and other relevant characteristics.This book is very readable and is punctuated with a nice sense of humor.