Asperger's syndrome

Name = Asperger's syndrome

Criticisms

Some people, including some people diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, argue that Asperger's syndrome is a social construct. Professor Simon Baron-Cohen of the Autism Research Centre has written a book arguing that Asperger's syndrome is an extreme version of the way in which men's brains differ from women's. He says that, in general, men are better at systematizing than women, and that women are better at empathizing than men (Baron-Cohen, 2003). Hans Asperger himself is quoted as saying that his patients have "an extreme version of the male form of intelligence". The concept of male vs. female intelligence is controversial, however, and while as of 2005 the theory of biodeterminism is fashionable among psychological and sociological researchers, it remains a theory and not a proven fact.

Related Topics:
Social construct - Simon Baron-Cohen - 2005

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As a category claimed to have a clearly defined neuro-biological basis, Asperger's syndrome probably has the same degree of validity as a whole host of other psychiatric labels such as ADHD, widely criticised by leading psychiatrists such as Peter Breggin and Sami Timimi, obsessive compulsive disorder (see OCD) and clinical depression, much promoted by the growing mental health sector and pharmaceutical industry. All the behavioural traits associated with this condition occur to varying degrees within the general population. People diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome vary considerably in terms of intellectual, professional and social performance, range of interests, loquacity, conformism, hypersensitivity etc.. While a small minority may be genuine high-functioning autistics (with a communication and attachment deficit noticeable from early infancy) and much diagnostic confusion reigns among autism experts, no scientific proof exists of a link between severe Kanner's type autism and the geekish and slightly quirkish attributes of so many within our society. Subtle environmental, somatic and neurological differences can shape the development of our personality and our socialisation strategies. Among those diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a large number have some form of dyspraxia leading to a childhood predilection for solitary activities over group activities. Much is made of the central role played by the theory of mind in the categorisation of the autistic spectrum, yet clearly within the general population there is a huge variation in relative levels of social naivety and self-centredness. Many of our social skills are acquired in early infancy through bonding with our mother-figure and then through play with peers. Environmental factors interfering with these formative experiences may have lifelong repercussions leading some to withdraw from the social mainstream and become very private, nonsocial persons.

Related Topics:
ADHD - OCD - Clinical depression - Dyspraxia

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Another objection which has been put forward to this view is that, although Asperger's syndrome is more common among males than females, females with Asperger's syndrome do not necessarily come across as particularly masculine personalities, and some of them can show an exceptional interest in allegedly "feminine" or "right-brained" activities such as art or dancing. Yet again, what is perceived as a "masculine personality" may not be what Baron-Cohen had in mind by male intelligence, and art or dancing may be considered feminine only by certain social conventions. That art or dancing are perceived by some to be feminine pursuits clearly does not mean that a patient's interest in it must be motivated or directed by a non-systematic (presumably "female" in Baron-Cohen's work) brain structure.

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