Autism, Sex and Science: Simon Baron-Cohen at TEDxKingsCollegeLondon

Simon Baron-Cohen is Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at the University of Cambridge and Fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge. He is the Director of the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge University and a Fellow of the British Academy. He is the author of several books such as "Mindblindness", "The Essential Difference", "Prenatal Testosterone in Mind" and "Zero Degrees of Empathy", as well as the BAFTA-nominated DVDs "Mind Reading" and "The Transporters" to help people with autism to learn emotion recognition. He has received awards from the American Psychological Association and the British Psychological Society for his research contributions which range from the 'theory of mind' hypothesis of autism in 1985 to developing 'red flags' for autism in 2012. Recent awards include the Lifetime Achievement Award from MENSA (2011) and the Kanner--Asperger Medal (2013). He is a trustee of a number of autism charities, including the Autism Research Trust
About TEDx
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@MidnightAhri]

as someone with asperger, i was really getting annoyed by his SSSSS in his voice GOD DAMNNN

[@bonchance6757]

it gave me a headache. it was a horrible sound.

[@ryanhunter226]

I know same here. as an Aspie I hate the noise of water and I hate lips smacking

[@siristarburst9]

Don't many on the spectrum have peculiar ways lol of speaking:D

[@stevewilliams2240]

Same here. It was a torture to my ears.

[@Thornton019hockey]

I turned on captions and turned off my volume. Oh my gosh that's painful to hear. And I thought my art teacher did it a lot

[@jofox8066]

I have autism, I graduated from Cambridge in Natural Sciences and went on to become a software engineer. I am very pattern orientated in everything and,also fitting the description, my father was an engineer.

[@vegggiiieee]

I know this video is from before she won, but I'm surprised no one has mentioned Maryam Mirzakhani yet! I don't why so many people feel offended by this video. He stated facts, he did not reinforce any stereotypes what so ever. Heck, he even said women's science ability is just as men's, they just apply it differently. On AVERAGE, damn it. I think this video is great, and, as a female with autism, I can relate.

[@wavyyy8572]

+Kat Well, that prize doesn't show anything. Like in chess in top 100 Fide players is only one women/girl. What this guy is trying to say is that biology plays a factor in gender not only socialization.

[@albertolaycg]

ON AVERAGE! dam~:+!

[@Chaloonoupada]

Maryam Mirzakhani isn't half as good as Einstein it Newton. Of course, she won the fields medal, but fields medal don't necessarily pick Einstein's or Newton. There are 55 male mathematicians getting a fields medal for one female mathematician getting it.

[@anthead7405]

@@Chaloonoupada and?

[@jaynej2884]

It doesnt affect more boys. They only look for the symptoms of boys, which leaves women undiagnosed. Most women I foun out go thru many other health diagnoses like bipolar depression etc before they realize its ASD.

[@tinyrobot9989]

Yeah, it's really biased AF like seriously males being good at math can just be because historically female education was not given much attention at all which can lead to male inventors and scientists that resulting in stigma that men are good at science and same with women working in biology like just name a nurse. Florence Nightingale, just looked at it turns out she is a statistician who freeking knew exactly! but she is not knowing for her math job is she. She is a nurse and maybe this is why when people think of nursing they think of women it is just really irrating he is just basing of all his idea on most stereotypical things. Like autistic children play with trains but not the fact that autistic children have special interests ( lot of them prefer to do own thing like drawing and music not because they are good at it to startwith or that they see patterns but they just do that thing again and again ever autistic person is not a savant, they have to work hard ) , they like doing routine tasks, or sensory sensitive. Etc the way he puts it is just like pattern thinking is a men thing autistic people like patterns and all autistic people have higher iq and they are genius and people who mostly guys who agree with this are people who get made fun of on r/iamverysmart sub reddit they are basically trying to prove that they are are smart.

[@kimmiewise1044]

Tiny Robot Well, we are still seeing a dearth of women who on average do worse than men when it comes to STEM assessment and in Norway we also see that as cultures and society encourage true egalitarianism that women prefer more social roles like Nursing, teaching and social work and men gravitate to mechanical fields in engineering and more competitive places like law firms. Only a handful of women not only choose these jobs by actually have an iota of competence. Same thing with psychology which is where Autism was studied under prior to the developments of the genetic and coping factors to autism. Psychology was first studied in women, notably the father of psychology, Sigmund Freud, founded psychology by studying a woman with acute mania in Vietnam and maladies in women have been more quickly identified in women than in men for centuries. Women have been studied to be more social than men statistically with women scoring higher in agreeableness on average across eras and cultures as well as women expressing aggression through social behavior than physical behavior. Women are just more socially adapt than men, and when there is a genetic disorder that inhibits social adaptivity it will obviously thrive in men since men are already socially less aware. Women who are not socially conscious are more likely to experience social aggression and bullying and are more likely to experience isolation from peers. Add to that the fact that women desire sociability more than men and you have a very disadvantaged female. A disadvantage that, back in the day, lead to mass suicide and death. Autism is killer in women. Where as men do not have these biological traits and instead have traits that favor competition over agreeableness. Men have been relatively resilient to isolation and have no value in social marketability. Physical strength is what gets them. Shaun from the good doctor would Historically be disadvantaged over, say, Lennie from of mice and men. Yes Shaun is more intelligent over all but more men would accept Lennie and more men do accept Lennie because of his physical strength. Whereas Shaun is pressed to show his intelligence and even then is dismissed because of his low social capabilities. Where as women, regardless of strength or intelligence, favor social ranking. Attractive autistic women will probably have a better advantage over less attractive autistic women because one of the highest social values is appearance and hygiene. But they are still considered less than socially competent women. Take for example the media trope of the queen bee squad. One of the backups is often a girl or woman with little social or intellectual competence so is obviously incapable of fore-fronting or dominating the group but is still very high in social status due to what? Physical attractiveness. That is their redeeming feature. And with very little else to turn to within the female hierarchy it’s no wonder that women who are not attractive and do have severe autism experience extreme prejudice. It’s deeply biologically grounded that women should have high sociability. And when something prevents that from happening it’s seen as a malfunction and as undesirable. In short, autism hides much better in men than in women and once we know what to look for we will try to find it in more men than in women. Women with autism are relatively easy to spot when you know what you’re looking for and if you have the time. I know a woman who is undiagnosed but after only visiting her twice I knew she was autistic. She’s older so a lot of doctors don’t really mention it especially if they have ways of coping already without a diagnosis. But seriously women with autism is just a known truth and the general autism research is more geared towards them than towards the hidden men because it’s just naturally much harder to succeed for women than for men with autism but that also means that there’s a lot of men and boys struggling under the radar because the radar isn’t looking for them since they can succeed anyways. They are looking for women because of how heavy the disadvantage is for women compared to men. And with all that being said it’s clear you have not done any research on this topic and you both are whining about something that benefits you and does not benefit the very people you are accusing of privilege. You should take a note from the SJW’s and not point a finger because it’s going to get bent back straight to you by people who probably know way more. Just a tip.

[@siobhang8057]

Kimmie Wise. Thank you for your detailed and researched comment. That was interesting. Nevertheless, as a woman with Asperger's who had to wait 25 years to get a diagnosis, I agree with the call on wrong informations given in this Ted Talk. There are many of them who explain where this mistake (coz it is one.) comes from, and their terrible and long journey towards the correct diagnosis. Yes women with Apserger's are usually known to develop better techniques to cope with social situations, like observing and copying neurotypicals' behaviours; which make them harder to spot than men with AS. But that doesn't mean we are less impacted in any way. We still struggle a big deal! And in a way, we suffer more since we are constantly doubted! Despite the fact that I scored pretty high on the tests for the diagnosis, I still feel like I have to prove therapists my condition. And it is horrible! Coz I might know how to cope better than some men, but again, it doesn't mean that inside, I am not struggling. Because I do! May I suggest that you have a look at some Ted Talks on women with AS, so you can understand where this frustration and pain towards wrong data given by a so-called specialist on the matter, is coming from ? I think you will find them interesting too.

[@barthofste9039]

Do you know of any research that confirms or at least hints at this? I'm asking this out of curiosity

[@akstv5803]

@@tinyrobot9989 what nonsense you are saying ?? Now woman have access to education what have they done in maths ,science?? Oh c'mon I have seen even undergraduate entrance exams !! The woman fair poorly! 😂

[@Time_Bender]

This guy must have won a whissssstle competition in his childhood.

[@thedeadguy]

He’s cobra commander leader of the birds.

[@seatbelttruck]

There is some question as to whether males are actually more commonly autistic than females... The original study of autism was done strictly with boys, and females display slightly different symptoms than males, which are often less easy to spot. Now, maybe it's truly more common in males, but further research would be interesting, and could be helpful to women and girls who are on the spectrum but fell through the cracks when it came to diagnosis. I can get the Einstein diagnosis, but how is there enough information on Newton to make that kind of guess? Anyway, as a female with autism, this is a bit boring since it's pretty much brushing me aside.

[@eastbaysf]

+seatbelttruck Thank you... Hans Asperger only studied males.. Not females. A great deal of research is carried out only on males..As a female autistic person I can tell when I was growing up I was not given any math instruction..so this is void research in my opinion. Men are treated differently than women. The latest Fields medal went to a woman.. so things are finally changing.

[@seatbelttruck]

If they're discussing sex and autism, they should be describing how it effects both sexes. This video doesn't discuss females with autism at all. It's not that I think they're being deliberately discriminatory, it just feels like more of the same letting autistic women fall through the cracks.

[@DurhamBell]

seatbelttruck I also thought this line of reasoning had already been debunked as a product of diagnostic focus on males & the resultant statistics. I also agree that such presentations discount females on the spectrum. I didn't realize that I had HFA until I was about 35 & a similar phenomenon happens with adults since most research & information is geared toward childhood ASD. There seems to be a significant lack of method to a lot of the substance of this talk. Honestly, a lot of what he is talking about seems like statistically supported assumption. He uses ambiguous phrases quite a bit. "...seems..." etcetera. Also, he brags on people for questionable accomplishments like time required for solving a Rubik's Cube, which all depends on the amount of randomization with which the puzzle is initialized (as with a well/poorly shuffled deck of cards). So many of the things people point to for a "wow factor" in this dialog are potentially dubious...like diagnosing a scientist who has been long dead (like Newton). To his credit, he does qualify that these diagnoses are problematic.

[@bzporto]

Thank you, your comment saved me some time to write it my self... Sad that he's a very well known reference to the subject yet he's still one of those spreading information that reinforce a common sence, not necessarily the accurate thing.

[@Sophia-tf6yi]

You do not have autism. Your very statement shows that you care so much about social trends as to call yourself something you are not. An autistic person wouldn't do that.

[@annmarie1714]

I just want to say as a woman who's diagnosed herself with Asperger's, I wasn't offended *at all* by his presentation. His points seem quite valid and backed up by thorough research. Males normally & naturally have higher testosterone levels than females, so it makes sense that those with autistic traits would be more likely to show giftedness in STEM & less social aptitude than females on the Autism Spectrum. Female Aspies may be more likely to show giftedness with patterns involving more typically female interests. I think it's both "Nature & Nurture" where they end up succeeding, and being female often adds to their ability as well as stronger need to *act as if* they are neuro-typical, hence the lack of females who get diagnosed and slip through the cracks as I did.

[@hannahclarke2611]

I can understand people in the comments section getting irate about this speech reinforcing stereotypes or omitting women etc. But I think we should refrain from attaching any perceived conclusions to these findings. He is not saying that women aren't mathematically gifted, nor that they should be overlooked. In fact, his personal opinions are omitted altogether. They conducted a study and these are the results. Simple. I think maybe the people who are upset are projecting their own personal struggles onto the data. If higher pre-natal testosterone shows up in the data, don't get mad at the scientist who conducted the study or jump to conclusions regarding how their findings might manifest. The significance of the data might not manifest as you expect. Yours sincerely, an autistic girl :)

[@Jamie_Wilson]

^ This right here is EXACTLY the way we need to start looking at science, especially when it comes to anything gender (or gender identity) related. Now I do appreciate that it's easier to say these things when you yourself are autistic (hi, autistic guy here) because generally we don't lead with emotions/feelings first when we think about stuff. So I get that issues around gender are so damn touchy right now and probably will continue to be so for a while. However we really need to be more objective sometimes, as you say it's a study they did and this is what they found. If it doesn't fit with your views of the world, then that's your opinion and I respect that I really do. Its just like we need objective clinical studies and research by experts in the field to sort out this mess we've got into regarding gender. I'm not against people who are gender fluid, neutral, non-binary, trans etc at all, I really do respect your right to self expression however you feel happiest (as long as that doesn't negatively affect the same for others). Be yourself, go for it and I support you all the way. But as an autistic person myself, I want to KNOW the truth about my brain, whatever that may be. And I don't like people getting in the way of progress just for the sake of stuff not conflicting with some of these narratives out there about gender. Like you can be gender fluid or trans in this world without the need for scientific proof about any of it. If they do studies, like good quality studies that are non biased and double blinded, clinical settings etc, and that proves gender is not biologically determined by your genitals etc, I dont really know what "proof' your looking for really, but if that's the result of these studies I am 100% on board. But for now I just feel its like everyone wants to change the world and make this gender stuff rhe new normal and talk about the science to back it up and everyone who disagrees is transphobic even if they're litterally just challenging the studies or data being used to push this. It's like taken as a fact this stuff is "scientifically proven" when in reality that is near impossible for most things. Let's just live in a world where you can express yourself However you feel best, whatever gender, I'll use your pronouns, I'll do my best to make you feel comfortable etc. But do we need to change EVERYTHING because of this? No, it's still a minority thing, being trans is not something like >50% of people even think about. So I'm all for accommodation, I'm all for tollerance, I'm all for being a good person to another fellow person regardless of their gender... just let the scientists do their thing, we need to let them work without fear of being "cancelled" because they ran an important study that had anything to do with gender and it doesn't fit the trans narrative. Do your thing and let them do theirs, we can co-exist without all this tension and overreacting to stuff (on BOTH sides)

[@Jamie_Wilson]

^ This right here is EXACTLY the way we need to start looking at science, especially when it comes to anything gender (or gender identity) related. Now I do appreciate that it's easier to say these things when you yourself are autistic (hi, autistic guy here) because generally we don't lead with emotions/feelings first when we think about stuff. So I get that issues around gender are so damn touchy right now and probably will continue to be so for a while. However we really need to be more objective sometimes, as you say it's a study they did and this is what they found. If it doesn't fit with your views of the world, then that's your opinion and I respect that I really do. Its just like we need objective clinical studies and research by experts in the field to sort out this mess we've got into regarding gender. I'm not against people who are gender fluid, neutral, non-binary, trans etc at all, I really do respect your right to self expression however you feel happiest (as long as that doesn't negatively affect the same for others). Be yourself, go for it and I support you all the way. But as an autistic person myself, I want to KNOW the truth about my brain, whatever that may be. And I don't like people getting in the way of progress just for the sake of stuff not conflicting with some of these narratives out there about gender. Like you can be gender fluid or trans in this world without the need for scientific proof about any of it. If they do studies, like good quality studies that are non biased and double blinded, clinical settings etc, and that proves gender is not biologically determined by your genitals etc, I dont really know what "proof' your looking for really, but if that's the result of these studies I am 100% on board. But for now I just feel its like everyone wants to change the world and make this gender stuff rhe new normal and talk about the science to back it up and everyone who disagrees is transphobic even if they're litterally just challenging the studies or data being used to push this. It's like taken as a fact this stuff is "scientifically proven" when in reality that is near impossible for most things. Let's just live in a world where you can express yourself However you feel best, whatever gender, I'll use your pronouns, I'll do my best to make you feel comfortable etc. But do we need to change EVERYTHING because of this? No, it's still a minority thing, being trans is not something like >50% of people even think about. So I'm all for accommodation, I'm all for tollerance, I'm all for being a good person to another fellow person regardless of their gender... just let the scientists do their thing, we need to let them work without fear of being "cancelled" because they ran an important study that had anything to do with gender and it doesn't fit the trans narrative. Do your thing and let them do theirs, we can co-exist without all this tension and overreacting to stuff (on BOTH sides)

[@gubourn]

117 dislikes from those who say gender is a social construct

[@summerparker6555]

Thank for you the "easy to understand" facts. This is really interesting as my son has autism and his father and both grandfathers are highly skilled technician/mechanics. Which to me is kin to engineering in a sense.

[@GuppyPal]

I'm not sure why people get so upset about this talk. I've yet to see anyone produce any facts disproving what he's said. It's like people don't understand that something isn't wrong just because they don't like it. :/

[@alysfreeman11]

Err...new research reveals many undiagnosed women...me 60 yrs old.

[@isobellabrett]

I highly recommend this book: Women and Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Understanding Life Experiences from Early Childhood to Old Age by Sarah Hendrickx I have suggested it to so many women who found it very helpful.

[@athulya4147]

Yeah!

[@gaillewis5472]

5:13 that 8 pattern is CRAZY! I was taught the times table trick, but have never seen one so extensive.

[@GuppyPal]

Great talk! Thank you!

[@B_B_]

how he says anything with an "s" is painful to my ears but i do understand what he means by male influence

[@benjeesilv1596]

Wily 😅

[@CowieThomas1997]

Same

[@danieluyanguren]

I'm here because of his cousin Sacha Baron Cohen

[@paulinotou]

Idk if you are kidding but was thinking the same thing

[@SomeGuy-cq3yv]

@@paulinotou genuinely his cousin they both went to Cambridge University

[@katiestorm3338]

There are few things that I find more annoying then the stereotype that boys are more likely to be autistic then girls. What I would like to see is data on how many women like my self had to wait until we where between 20 -50 before we finally got diagnosed. As for me that lucky day did come until I was in my 30’s.

[@mrrocknroll5284]

"Yessss there are linkssss with autism and scienssss." - Sssssimon

[@theanarchonazbolinquisition]

I have aspergers and my dad is an engineer, my my what a coincidence!

[@theanarchonazbolinquisition]

+David J Indeed he does! +Jan Exactly! xD

[@1967davidfitness]

And his dad too?

[@theanarchonazbolinquisition]

David J Very much so (he is not diagnosed, but he defenently has it)

[@1967davidfitness]

Well it would be useful for his own personal reasons if he was assessed and formally diagnosed, maybe he is ,maybe he isn't, it would be up to him to decide if there's a point or not.

[@theanarchonazbolinquisition]

Hes old, rich, sits in a wheelchair all day and is happily married... so theres not really a point :p

[@rollespil1000]

One of my best friends has asperger's. He's a bit like the old wardrobe in Narnia -there's a huge world full of wonders inside.

[@alibozaid9079]

good point what he said after that should search about the relationship between all of that in labs .

[@ImanAliHussein]

Update: in 2014 the first woman won the Fields Medal!

[@ImanAliHussein]

Maryam Mirzakhani is her name, I didn't pick up anything from her interviews to think she was. Could you be more specific as to what you observed in her interviews which would make you think she is?

[@francesportokal1356]

ImanAliHussein

[@litoo2002]

Rest in Peace!

[@mattronwilliams7327]

I have aspergers however my learning disabilities have prevented me from being successful in a career it kind of sucks

[@anthead7405]

Asprenger syndrom mathematician here, it is nice to here I have macsuline brain.

[@XXarmymenXXGaming]

Sounds like he is whistling while pronouncing S's

[@Larfamaan]

Can't handle the high pitched s'es

[@samm5913]

This video has definitely changed my perspective on autism. It surprises me that it has shown such a strong correlation with having a scientific mind. I think that it is very interesting that autistic kids simply see things in a more masculine manner and i find it even more interesting that this is backed by evidence of children who have autism have higher levels of testosterone prenatally. It also was a very interesting theory about Einstein having autism. It is strange to me that a man seen as genius could possibly have had this disorder and had a hard time socializing. I like this video because instead of viewing autistic people as those with a disorder, it describes them more as people who have a high interest in patterns and who can be very talented in the area of science.

[@therealsteph6581]

+Sam M WELL SAID!!

[@chayashalom2065]

Your theory is flawed.

[@elenakusevska6266]

Sam M right... except that this kind of talk trivializes autism and the fact that many actually have severe learning disabilities. It also further promotes the idea that science is just for those with strange minds, not for everybody...

[@elenakusevska6266]

Sam M and also that science is guy thing

[@moongirl786]

+Elena Kusevska That's not what he said at all... he said men and women have equal scientific ability, they just apply it differently; men to inanimate things with predictable patterns, women to people and animals

[@PatriotAr15]

If he worked at google, he'd be fired by now.

[@soytuenergia]

It is just like dictatorship… or I'm wrong??

[@nadine7327]

@@soytuenergia Because he is staying differences between male and female.

[@sophiafrancis7436]

His book, The Essential Difference, is a good follow up to this ted talk. while there are some interesting observations, i wouldn't call it enough to make general statements with confidence. In the infant looking experiment he refers to, done by he and his grad students, the raw data is insignificant. the conclusion to the report even says so, as well as problematic issues with the study itself: information bias from the researchers, and the difficulty of trying to record the attention spans of 1 day old babies. His work with autism and asperger syndrome has focused mainly with high functioning levels, and certainly might be applicable to it; but I don't really see his evidence for attempting to extrapolate the males-autism link into sex differential categories.

[@alanastone5241]

I was a girl and hated dolls. I played with toy cars and Lego but I still fancied boys.

[@Neilgs]

Also, let us consider Newton and Einstein. To whom, retrospectively, would it have benefited if they were "properly diagnosed?" No doubt the stigma attached to the genius of their "disorder" would have had (retrospectively) a tendency to hamper their unfettered genius or eccentricities which led them to brilliantly experiment (i.e. beginning with Einstein as a boy imagining and obsessing with what it would be like to travel on a beam of light, etc.). Why should have Einstein if could, been "redirected" and attempted to be made more "social" as one example. To reduce everything a single sum integer or false neurotypical conception of more or less "universal" and I dare say fictitious "neurotypical normalcy" may lead to the idea of addressing "deficiencies" but unwittingly threatens the brilliant diversity of human thought, creativity and expression, as well as the penultimate deficiency in conceiving "neurotypical" (rather more accurately human neurodiversified) under one brushstroke!

[@wub-0-tronic117]

finally someone that understands the human condition...

[@kingneckbeard]

I definitely agree that treating autism as a disease is not the right approach. However, if we can help bridge the divide between the autistic and the neurotypical by giving them the tools to communicate better, then the autistics will be more able to contribute to society and be more able to get help if they need it. So, it wouldn't be forcing Einstein to be more social, but rather, that if Einstein wanted to be more social, he would have that option open. I think that's hard to object to unless you feel that we need to be able to exploit the autistic, which I doubt you do.

[@slothfromthegoonies8201]

Neilgs Stop this nonsense about claiming great historical figures had autism, without adequate evidence. All it does is simply to misrepresent autism. Even if they possessed autism, they were certainly high functioning individuals. It leads to the belief that all autistic people should are academically gifted, borderline geniuses, despite the fact that most people with the condition are higher along the spectrum, and suffer from greater handicaps. This is why I think the blanket term "autism", is slightly misleading, it doesn't adequately represent the fact that the symptoms can vary drastically from person to person.

[@Neilgs]

Sloth from The Goonies They is a great deal of strong and unmistakable suggestive evidence that some of the greatest historical figures (i.e., Einstein clearly one, with respect to his atypical social behaviors, attention deficit compromises from early historical documents, etc.) that would indicate retrospectively diagnoses would be rendered and if not of the highly overused broad umbrella ASD most certainly would merit the misleading label ADD and/or etc Thus, psychotropics be prescribed as the best/ preferred recommended treatment administered, in which case genius would be rendered for all intents and purposes inoperable or compromised, that is, by precisely a "scientifically informed" combination of behavioral based BS and psychotropics (Aderall, , Ritalin etc). In fact there is nothing unreasonable about this "speculation" as we can soberly look to many accomplished geniuses of today across a broad arena who do not (and did not as children) fit the "neuro-typical" box which has become ever increasingly narrowed (false) with any atypicality being viewed as, more or less, diathesis/pathology. So please spare me your nonsense and conventional folk skeptical wisdom or at least naivete! As far as "Even if they possessed autism, they were certainly low functioning individuals." Really? Einstein, Edison other significantly explore biographies of exceptional geniuses including many artists, etc, would therefore fall into your bin of "certainly low functioning." Astounding, truly! Please enlighten us more as to how you would conclude such? lol Yes, indeed the blanket term ASD is highly, misleading. Inexcusably, embarrassingly and potentially criminally so. You will find complete support here on that one. The terms should be changed to a vas, "Human neurodiversfied spectrum"; with heterogeneous strengths and challenges per each individual rather than the current, uniformed perception or terribly misleading "deficit model." We would then have a much more humane and comprehensive scientific Developmental understanding of human development and neurodiversified differences!

[@wub-0-tronic117]

Neilgs I just came a lil... someone with a brain on YT xD

[@nigen]

just live in a university town and you will see all this every day

[@EvalynnFordawinn]

I'm an Aspergian, I'm also Born and raised in EINDHOVEN O.O!111!1

[@siristarburst9]

I know every # pattern connected to me (ie SIN, bank card) by heart. I graduated to college on a math/science scholarship at 8yo. I began whistling like Bing Crosby by 4 yo & I have perfect pitch, among other things, in music. It's the linear side of music (studio) that I like. I'm a pro musician but not live bcz I just can't be around ppl tht much. Self taught. Everything equates to a number pattern or I don't get it. I can't stand being touched, I've not dated for 16 yrs bcz of that. My son is on the spectrum & I'm beginning to think I am too

[@MathTutorVideos]

Sounds like a reasonable theory. I guess the question would be, do you have issues with empathy? Do you find it difficult to guess from facial expressions how another person is feeling? or did you growing up and it took some time to adapt a system to determine it? IE differentiating between different types of smiles or numbering the smiles in levels of degree of smiling, etc?

[@MadMe67]

I hate to say it but he could be right. I am female, a bit autistic, never liked dolls, see patterns, was very good at maths, and have reason to believe in the testosterone influence. And am about to graduate with a non biological science degree. I fit.

[@ishthefish9006]

I was really great at math and i suffered aspergers syndrome. Its the only thing i really liked

[@bananewane1402]

I’m a female with Aspergers. I strongly suspect I have a somewhat masculine or androgynous brain. Yes, I love science.

[@jaket2k927]

He's related to Sasha Baron-Cohan who when not making films that offend a nation or a few he has been seriously working a long side him.

[@amandagroenhof868]

It's such a shame to hear him saying that more boys have autism. Autism spectrum disorder is expressed differently in women than men, as they generally tend to be better social "cameleons" when compared to men. I was only diagnosed at 28 due to being an expert at "blending in", and have struggled all my life with issues that I can now relate to ASD. So having information spread that more boys than girls have autism is a shame, so many girls go through life undiagnosed and struggling and it really requires extra awareness and a different approach, instead of more wrongly interpreted data.

[@benelatus3704]

Thanks for the video,

[@layloolapierre5330]

By scientific abilities do you mean people able to spot patterns? Because when we think about autistic artists, are they necessarily interested in the scientific aspect and/or by the historic and technical aspects of it?

[@Irene-gq4jr]

Isn't it the case that girls play with dolls and boys play with cars because that's what they're given? I generally pulled my dolls apart to see how they fitted together. I put nice clothes on them because I had a creative eye. By the time I was given a keyboard and taught myself to read music around 8 years old I'd long lost interest in the dolls, and preferred organizing my seamstress mum's button collection instead. Learning to be sociable and not put my foot in my mouth every time was a long, painful journey for me, one that resulted in being bullied or ostracised at times. Overanalysis of situations helps you overcome that, but it can be a long time coming. However the anxiety never goes. ASD doesn't always look like Rainman.

[@will4us]

Not bias or stereotype at all. Nothing wrong with observing the number of times the sun shines/warms/heats up in a particular or several areas and concluding average time per year the sun does/performs. You can also collect the same data over decades. You can deny the data if you strongly believe it’s not accurate enough because some years or months, days are missed but cannot just dismiss the findings because you don’t like them.

[@ZauberinNini]

I'm so fascinated by this man,he speaks and smiles...love that.

[@preddy09]

Ya me too. His voice, accent, soft spoken and those SSSS's are so soothing.

[@ZauberinNini]

Geebz Yesssss.I'd like to meet him in person:)

[@benniplex3906]

His reference to Derek was slightly wrong, Derek can actually pick out more then 10 notes from a chord.. he picked out every note from a very large chord played by a whole orchestra and of course had to trill his way up the piano to reach each note having a limited amount of fingers and thumbs to be able to play it back. His capability just hadnt been tested to that level beforehand

[@aacra]

+Benni Plex So perhaps it was correct at the time of the lecture...

[@benniplex3906]

It's not that it was correct, it's that they were wrongly assuming without the facts

[@aacra]

What do you mean. "They were wrongly assuming without the facts"? That doesn't make sense. Who is they? This was one professor giving a lecture using evidence and anecdote to reinforce the message of sex differences in autism. A message that seemed clear enough to me anyway. It's odd to pick on one tiny piece of the lecture and criticise it because it doesn't negate the lecture at all.

[@benniplex3906]

+Andrew A Gardener The professor stating Derek could pick out 10 notes from a chord. wrongly assuming he is limited to amount of notes based on the fingers he had to play them back without either considering or reviewing the evidence of him displaying he can pick out more notes via other means

[@aacra]

I'm finding it difficult to understand what you are trying to say. Perhaps English is not your first language or some other factor is making it hard for me, so apologies if I am misconstruing your argument. Did he mention anything about fingers? No, he didn't, but the fact that he can pick out more than 10 note chords means that he can, de facto, pick out all the notes in a 10 note chord. So what he said was indeed correct, he just didn't need to say any more because what he said was sufficient to make his point in a limited time frame. I assume he only had sufficient time to make certain points. Good lecturers make use of limited time by only using relevant evidence once to make their case.

[@bigbad123321]

10% talking, 90% whistling

[@umberdandelion]

Yet again, another autism speech forgetting to talk about females. Thank you so freaking much.

[@ERiCDrAyViN]

+Umber Moore a bit like speeches about eating disorders not talking about boys isn't it?

[@umberdandelion]

So?

[@umberdandelion]

ERiCDrAyViN i would also want them to talk about boys.

[@AngryPug76]

In other videos he explained the same clinical studies involving testosterone could not be performed with females because there were not enough prenatal amino samples of females with autism available. They attempted both but the raw data just wasn't there.

[@umberdandelion]

Shabba Ranks oh yeah? Where's the source?

[@cryptowrongwong]

He whistles when he talks. It's the second time I hear this

[@jeremywvarietyofviewpoints3104]

I suppose he has a mild speech impediment.

[@Neilgs]

If a certain type of genius may be associated with autism spectrum differences (bear in mind, it is Not a unified disorder but rather a "more or less" extent involving MANY heterogeneous pathways ways (i.e. multi-causal), then for example, is "lack of genius" merely the biographical memoirs by lesser develop and more misanthropic humanity (at least in some examples given). Analogously, from a Neanderthals' perspective homosapiens MUST have been viewed as peculiar and bizarre group of fellows. There is good reason to believe when we consider the Neurodiversified spectrum (where typical and atypical are relative and varying points) that there is indeed some truth to this!

[@MarianoBulaBlackOrpheus]

that one I can understand

[@lbrigh6]

Dr Simon is amazing

[@oil.slick856]

imagine taking time to write a whole speech. Perform it in front of a audience and film and upload it only for everyone to comment on the wayyou talk. It isn't even that bad.

[@hugheaston7598]

Was your mother by any chance given medical treatment to prevent miscarriage while she was pregnant with you? These treatments typically involve high doses of artificial sex hormones, and I think one unintended side effect of them can be that they interfere with brain masculinisation in a male fetus (which is what I think happened to me). However, it's possible there might be some be some circumstances where they have the reverse effect of masculinising the brain of a female fetus too.

[@deniseroberts6405]

Please refer to a "closed" Facebook account, "Westlake Academy Charter School Corruption & Administrative Retaliation" which lists the City of Westlake/ Westlake Academy School District's legal representative's PRIVATE email discussion between (1) the Texas Education Agency legal counsel representative and (2) the parent's special education law firm during administrative due process hearing for Child Find violation. The parent's lawyer sent the school lawyer's private email discussion to the parent in ERROR. The school lawyer's private email and other numerous email correspondent letters data shows CLEAR evidence for SPECIAL EDUCATION CORRUPTION and substantiated proof for federal and state violation in acts of CONSPIRACY to defraud a Federal funded program and the government

[@CaptainDugog]

Simon Sibilance Baren Cohen

[@KACZMARCZYK4369]

his voice is it unedited? haha

[@montyparata4914]

OMG LOOK AT HIS FACE THIS IS BORAT'S DAD

[@bernardomeza6906]

Why has no one asked if he's related to Sasha Baron Cohen???

[@doctorkropotkin6710]

He is, they're cousins.

[@sunrose9211]

What about girls with Aspergers , they are fewer but definitely need more research too .

[@moonmissy]

I never played with dolls and I have Asperger. Girls have autism too but they don’t get diagnosed because of the sexism in thinking like this man. It is the reason why I don’t know I have autism until 42. I looked at faces but in people’s iris because of the patterns in them and how my image reflected from it... that was me as a kid. Girls get socialized to stay away from math and science. I had an IQ of 130 and my mom refused to pay for my education or even asked me why I went to university far from home. After 20 years she finally asked. told her because I was given a scholarship.

[@DrunkTerminator]

Thank you for commenting. This video is insane.

[@tvbw9387]

I agree with your comment. I am a girl who has autism. I was diagnosed at an early age beacuse it was really obvious. What I most resonated in your comment was the fact that I had a talent for math, sport and art though my favourite subject was math, and my dad and other adults pushed me into doing art, even when I said I wanted to be a mathematician they still ignored my comments and signed me up for art classes. Sorry just had to let it out 😁

[@elizabethf8078]

The SSSSS. IT HURTS!!! AAAAAUGH!!!!!!!!

[@IAmHoTSHoTzz]

Holy shit. He nailed Utrecht. lol

[@carlosgayosso5398]

He should’ve included exceptions (surely there have been) to the conclusions he was jumping to

[@coreycox2345]

Illuminating.

[@eddsauceplz]

He may not look like his cousin...but he sure can sound like him

[@vascofrancisco9903]

I have asperger syndrome, but I have more will to be an artist.

[@davidpr7868]

Not very politically correct, but still true. ;) People need to learn and listen. There is most definitely a difference between men and women.

[@AineSherman]

I've always believed that people with Autism and Aspergers were the next evolution. I so wish all the effort was put toward helping these souls evolve to the best self. Things that can improve outcomes I've seen include music therapy for infants on a water mat, swimming, weighted vests/blankets, ear plugs, sunglasses and skateboarding/skating as well as art, music and math. ❤️

[@rishabhkaushik22]

are you related to Adm. Gen. Aladeen (Sacha Baron Cohen) in any way? lol

[@DaniBBarbosa]

Rishabh Kaushik he's his cousin

[@rishabhkaushik22]

Oh! didnt know that...Thanks anyways

[@stokedbloke]

I wonder how much of the dolls vs legos idea, and people vs technological sciences today is an artifact of the generations of genderizing toys and child rearing. I’m wondering how compelling the data Simon is presenting is for arguing the differences are innate.

[@YerMawsDa]

Jesus, the SSS. My neruotypical brother watched this and he even said it was bloody annoying

[@adambozym8762]

I'm autistic and it doesn't bother me at all tbh.

[@rwatson1955]

I'm proud to have published with this man

[@eastbaysf]

+Roger Watson writerbeat.com/articles/4459-Why-Many-Muslim-Males-are-Masochistic-and-Sadistic

[@ErinRaeBraswell]

Patterns can be found in art and behavior too. If girls are more prone to watching faces over machines, wouldn't girls on the spectrum be more likely to have an edge in recognizing the subtle and complex patterns of the people around her? How many of those women studying psychology (who wayyyy outnumbered men) were on the spectrum? Is there data for people on the spectrum who end up in criminology, counseling or visual/performing arts? I suspect that the ladies on the spectrum are hiding in those arenas somewhere. I mean, if trauma doesn't derail them first that is...

[@pinkchihua]

This was ages ago lol but I read a book about the studies that they did about children playing and it said that they didn't do fair and properly controlled tests, partly because the nurse conducting the tests knew the gender of the child they were testing.

[@manoogianation]

i smell theoretical orientation...

[@manoogianation]

OMG I come back to this post because I realized the theoretical orientation fallacy is real but at the same time can be used in agenda to deny real evidence.

[@ramisabongui]

how politically incorrect!

[@nachomansandycabbage]

+Some Dude what are you talking about

[@messyties]

And, yet, factually correct...

[@alexbernhard7116]

@@messyties Looks like facts do not care about feelings.

[@Fightclub1995]

You can see if you where exposed to high testosterone before birth. If your ring finger is longer then your index finger then it is the case

[@noggie7171]

Dor anyone watching in 2020 this is mostly scientifically wrong and many on these things have been disproven

[@chandramt5259]

This is a totally dated perspective on autism and I'm surprised it was presented at TED. Autism is not gendered, its simply male biased.

[@chandramt5259]

Chandra Melting Tallow "Psychologist Kate Plaisted Grant, also from the University of Cambridge, calls the study (Simon Baron Cohens study on testosterone levels) "intriguing", but says that "it doesn't establish a link between fetal testosterone and the cognitive profile of autism". For instance, she says, it does not show a correlation between testosterone and visuospatial skills, in which patients with autism are usually very proficient.She also isn't convinced that the findings support the underlying theory. "The broader scientific community hasn't accepted the idea of the extreme male brain," she says. Fetal testosterone "may create a special brain, but it doesn't necessarily create a male brain".Psychiatrist Laurent Mottron, from the University of Montreal in Canada, and an author of one of the commentaries, raises other concerns. In particular, he says that just because males and people with autistic disorders score similarly in autism questionnaires, this does not mean that autistic traits are the same as male traits. Rather, he argues, it just shows that the test cannot discriminate between maleness and autism."For me, it's exactly the same as saying that two things that weigh the same are both made of the same stuff," he explains." "Everyone does agree on one thing, however - that the British media has over interpreted the data."The Guardian [newspaper] is focusing on the issue of screening. The study is not about screening and it is not motivated by trying to develop the screening test. It was motivated by trying to understand possible causal factors in autism," says Baron-Cohen.And even if a biological marker for autism is found, many feel that the question of screening is a moral, rather than a scientific, question."Individuals with autism are remarkable individuals who have fantastic skills and who are a huge asset to our society," says Plaisted Grant. "The thought that there would be genetic screening so that these individuals wouldn't be born, I find abhorrent." www.nature.com/news/2009/090113/full/news.2009.21.html

[@Neilgs]

Chandra Melting Tallow It is indeed abhorrent as it would attempt a purging or razing if not prenatally then later (as is much done in overdrive today) by a combination of applied behavioral analysis and psychotropics of much of the talent and genius from the human race. What we would have in our noble and grand "success" would be a dumbing down and conformity of the human race to the lowest integer in order to false satisfy an entirely illusory concept of that which constitutes neurotypicality. This is not to mention the tremendous fuel of financial motives that support such (not all) grand motives and distorted perceptions passed off as "gospel."

[@jonathanzargosky5100]

+Chandra Melting Tallow its high pre-natal testosterone and low pre-natal oxytocin that determines autistic traits.

[@livedandletdie]

+Chandra Melting Tallow Actually it is male dominant because it's a mutation in the X chromosome, a recessive trait as well. Hence for a female to get autism she needs to get 2 x chromosomes with the mutation.

[@jonathanzargosky5100]

The Major Everything is on the X chromosome...its just that the SRY gene on the Y mediates how X genes are expressed in what way.

[@WoWguidery]

Ssssssssssally Sssssanders Sssssunk when sssssshe fell off of the ssssail boat.

[@Jaguadarte__]

Borat's cousin

[@paukconuk]

I had to turn this off due to the sssss :(

[@alexandroshomegas6867]

Borat's dad.

[@AngryPug76]

Nope. It's his cousin. No really, that's Borats cousin.

[@JEsauRomano]

Wait wait wait, Newton didn't discover gravity, Newton invented fluxion which leads to calculus, c'mon be acurate!

[@CorvinaNoirManra]

Freud would be proud.

[@cosmoshfa88savant66]

++++ Vocal Sibilance ++++ Time to E,Q,,,,,

[@sad_is_fiction]

And a Desser

[@Daniel556]

This guys voice is like a dog toy every time he uses as S.

[@CantWeedThis]

Daniel Flintlock if you ignore his words and just listen to the stream of "S" noises it sounds like mouse language

[@thenovids77]

I would have liked if he related being transgender with this. like particularly female to male there seems to be a link with autism

[@MC-kv6sy]

I significantly enjoy the lack of incompetence in the majority of these posts lmfao. Do none of you understand that you're trying to prove wrong a leading scientist in the field of autistic research with anecdotal evidence and feministic accounts that prove his observations otherwise?

[@sandrapacopaco]

The brother if borat

[@smorrow]

Cousin.

[@rwatson1955]

+eastbaysf - the man in the video is dealing with evidence not opinion or ideology. I find your comment insulting.

[@eastbaysf]

+Roger Watson For centuries female art was never allowed to be hung anywhere near male art.. does that mean females cannot paint? No,, some of the greatest artists were females but their are was hidden in private galleries so as not to "shame" the male artists.. these great master female painters can be found In Italy .. does not mean male brains are superior ,, just that they are different and more afraid of the female brain. I am a female autistic person.. was never allowed to do math in my convent school in Scotland as it was considered a male skill only. this is OLD out dated research like the men it represents.

[@raffaelschafer312]

Can you believe he is the cousin of Ali G.? :-)

[@denzmo1139]

Borat

[@athulya4147]

All of his data, except that one about new borns' interest in patterns, are invalid simply because he doesn't account for patriarchy and other social factors.

[@tanja9085]

Confusing to listen to this speech as a female autistic. I don't think that I have a male brain. Also a lot of autistics don't like patterns. I know many who love to write or like to do art work. Many hate math. For me there are better theories to explain autism than this. And why should testosterone lead to all the sensory issues most autistics have and which many see as their biggest problem?

[@davidakerlund721]

sjws and feminists trigger warning lol

[@adambozym8762]

They get even more triggered than autistic people.

[@craigbrowning9448]

Please De-Ess this video!

[@Dinkydau00]

Haha, I'm the ultra male now!

[@alexphipps4912]

he called rubiks cubers "players" lol. good video anyway

[@eugenemurray2940]

And we are more open to abuse Esp covert abuse...