• Question: In the field of psychology, what made you interested with the research of autism ?

    Asked by anon-183902 to Nathan, Lorna on 5 Nov 2018. This question was also asked by anon-184404.
    • Photo: Nathan Hook

      Nathan Hook answered on 5 Nov 2018:

      The autism spectrum is a very complex subject with a research still to do. It’s also a condition that appears to be becoming more common in society, possibly because some of the benefits from being on the spectrum are now beneficial skills for many careers.

      In many ways, it goes the heart of psychology – understanding what it means to be human, by looking as a slightly different kind of mind. Male and female brains are different, but we would not say one is less human or a lesser version of the other. In the same way autism (at least on the higher end on the spectrum) represents a different kind of brain with a different cognitive style.

      Autism is also over-represented in academia – many people with it are highly intelligent and able to look at complex problems in creative and original ways.

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