Pioneer of ‘extreme male brain’ theory of autism now says phrase unhelpful

Prominent autism researcher Simon Baron-Cohen is reconsidering his most influential theory. For two decades, his 'extreme male brain' framework shaped how we understand autism—positioning it as a tendency toward systemizing over empathy. Now he says he regrets the phrase because it breeds misunderstanding. While Baron-Cohen maintains the underlying science is sound, the label itself obscures rather than clarifies. He's also challenging a widespread myth: that autistic people lack empathy. According to The Guardian, Baron-Cohen now views the characterization as more misleading than insightful.

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