Empathising and systemising in adults with and without Asperger Syndrome
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Conscious and Non-conscious Representations of Emotional Faces in Asperger's Syndrome
Published on: July 31, 2016
John Lawson1, Simon Baron-Cohen, Sally Wheelwright
1Autism Research Centre, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18b Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 2AH, UK. jl231@cam.ac.uk
Abstract:
An experiment was devised to test the empathising-systemising (E-S) theory of autism. Three groups of participants took part in the study: males with Asperger Syndrome (AS) (n = 18), males without AS, (n = 44) and females from the general population (n = 45). Each participant completed two tasks: one that involved empathising and another that involved systemising. On the empathising task, females scored significantly higher than control males who in turn scored higher than males with AS. Conversely, females scored significantly lower than both male groups on the systemising task, who did not differ significantly from each other. These results are in line with both the E-S theory of autism and the 'extreme male brain' theory of autism. Alternative explanations of the results are also explored, including an interpretation through the idea of open and closed systems.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Empathy
Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
Cognitive Development During Adolescence
Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...
Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other

