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Book
ReviewDiffering
Cognitive StylesThe essential difference. Simon Baron-Cohen, 2003. London: Penguin; ISBN 0713996714 paper, 263 pp., £7.99 paper
SAGE Publications, Inc.200410.1191/0967550704ab007XX
CatherineLamont-Robinson
University of Southampton
Simon
Baron-Cohen explores the notion that male and female brains are perfectly
adapted for certain specialist niche~ one adapted to survival and integration
in the social world, and the other adapted to predicting and controlling events.
Baron-Cohen's sensitivity to accusations of gender stereotyping in the pursuit
of explorations into gender difference is evident and he points out that the
spontaneous tendencies of each brain type are not necessarily embodied in
the expected gender. Nevertheless, the author convincingly makes a case for
the need to establish a hypothetically extreme male and female brain in order
to establish the co-ordinates of his theory. Cultural and social influences
are rigorously explored; however, his broad- ranging research points to innate
biological factors that initially pre- dispose males and females towards their
environment in a particular way. One of the enormous strengths of this text
is the author's use of relevant and fascinating case studies to ground his
developing theory. We instantly recognize certain personality types and patterns
of behaviour and become drawn into a multifaceted theory, which provides an
informed and entertaining perspective that is applicable to everyday life.
Baron-Cohen suggests that predominant empathizing skills typify the extreme
female brain and predominant systemizing skills typify the extreme male brain.
He maintains that systemizing and empathiz- ing are entirely different kinds
of processes, that empathizing is used to make sense of an individual's behaviour
whilst systemizing is used for predicting almost everything else and, further,
that empathy demands a certain degree of attachment whereas detachment is
a necessity for effective systemizing. Baron-Cohen maintains that the extreme
female brain would be characterized by a high empathizing ability combined
with a difficulty in understanding mathematics, physics, or chemistry as systems.
The extreme male brain is presented as high systemizing (primarily in a mechanistic,
technical manner) and low empathizing (to the extent that all social interaction
is poten- tially problematic). He goes on to suggest that society at present
is likely to be biased towards accepting the extreme female brain and stigmatizes
the extreme male brain.
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Baron-Cohen
then makes a comparison between the extreme male brain and high-functioning
autis~ the sex ratio of this disorder is currently at least 10 males to every
female. The author's pioneering contribution to research into autism-spectrum
(AS) disorders is re- nowned. His conclusions, which are highlighted by several
case stu- dies included in the text, indicate that autism-spectrum conditions
are strongly genetic in origin. Interestingly, he makes the observation that
of the few adult AS patients in his clinic who were female, many of them recall
being described as `tomboys' in their behaviour and interests. Given his earlier
stated assertion that both empathy and systemizing come from different regions
of the brain, the fact that both structural and functional neurological differences
are evident in autistic-spectrum disorders validates his controversial exploration
of gender led thinking patterns and behaviour. Perhaps the most startling
scientific data presented in the book relates to evidence of structural and
functional differences between the female and male brains. Current medical
technology has revealed distinctly dissimilar growth patterns in relation
to both right and left hemispheric development and significant differences
in the size of various areas of the brain relating to cognitive style. Baron-Cohen
also presents convincing research indicating a correlation between hormonal
levels and spontaneous empathy or systemizing behaviour patterns. From his
series of controlled studies, it would seem that from birth, females are biologically
set up to become more adaptable socially and linguistically and less likely
to become technically obsessed, whereas males are already predisposed towards
more sys- temizing behaviour, make considerably less eye contact and often
demonstrate competitive tendencies. The social implications of these findings
could also be considerabl~ for example, Baron-Cohen acknowledges that increased
empathy can provide an effective brake to aggression. As for educational implications,
the author tentatively suggests that teachers could target their teaching
on areas where each sex is likely to need more direction and support, yet
asks `But should we really attempt intervention at all? Should society strive
to make an average male more empathetic, or an average female more focused
on sytemizing?' This adds an interesting slant to Jerome Bruner's definition
of two ways of knowing, `the narrative and the paradig- matic'. The former
conforms closely to Baron-Cohen's description of the spontaneous female cognitive
strategies and the latter, male cognitive strategies. Baron-Cohen uses the
highly researched male and female map reading strategies as a classic example
of the male superiority in understanding space as a geometric system with
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the
focus on roads and routes, and female superiority in recognition of landmarks,
relative locations and memorizing road names. Gender aside, two fundamentally
differing cognitive styles are outlined, one imposing a formula and relating
the parts to that system, the other developing a theory through the gradual
accumulation of data, build- ing up a network of connections. It is perhaps
worth noting that logico-scientific, paradigmatic learning is still the predominant
mode of educational practice. However, Baron-Cohen's diagrammatic representation
of the full range of brain profiles includes a category that he refers to
as `the balanced brain' (pitched exactly between the extreme male and female
brains), suggesting that, despite the biological differences and per- haps
differential social and educational support, a significant proportion of male
and female adults demonstrate an equal range of both empathizing and systemizing
skills. Baron-Cohen's stated intent is to explore, value and indeed celebrate
differences in the male and female patterns of intelligence. He suggests that
popular texts such as Men are from Mars and women are from Venus present a
divisive and unhelpful model in terms of understanding male and female cognitive
strategies. The essential difference is one of those rare texts that has the
potential to permanently add colour and dimension to the reader's world view
of a well worn subject.