title: Empathizing, systemizing, and the extreme male brain theory of autism.
abstract: Females in the general population on average have a stronger drive to empathize, and males in the general population on average have a stronger drive to systemize. Evidence related to these claims is reviewed. People with autism spectrum conditions have below average empathy alongside intact or even above average interest in systems. As such, they can be conceptualized as an extreme of the typical male brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, Douglas House, Cambridge, UK. sb205@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baron-Cohen
mesh_terms: D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D056348:Emotional Intelligence / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors