The systemizing quotient

An investigation of adults with Asperger syndrome or high–functioning autism, and normal sex differences

Bibliographic Data

ID23317023
AuthorsSimon Baron‐cohen (0000-0001-9217-2544, University of Cambridge, corresponding author), Simon Baron-Cohen (Autism Research Centre, Departments of Experimental Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK), Jennifer Richler (Autism Research Centre, Departments of Experimental Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK), Dheraj Bisarya (Autism Research Centre, Departments of Experimental Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK), Nhishanth Gurunathan (Autism Research Centre, Departments of Experimental Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK), Sally Wheelwright (0000-0003-0657-2483, Autism Research Centre, Departments of Experimental Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK)
EditorsU Frith, E L Hill
Year2003
Volume358
Issue1430
Pages361-374
Publication date2003-02-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0962-8436 • E-ISSN: 1471-2970
PublisherThe Royal Society (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1098/rstb.2002.1206
PMID12639333
PMCIDPMC1693117
OpenAlexW2143474508
LanguageEN
Citations received93
References cited45

Systemizing is the drive to analyse systems or construct systems. A recent model of psychological sex differences suggests that this is a major dimension in which the sexes differ, with males being more drawn to systemize than females. Currently, there are no self–report measures to assess this important dimension. A second major dimension of sex differences is empathizing (the drive to identify mental states and respond to these with an appropriate emotion). Previous studies find females score higher on empathy measures. We report a new self–report questionnaire, the Systemizing Quotient (SQ), for use with adults of normal intelligence. It contains 40 systemizing items and 20 control items. On each systemizing item, a person can score 2, 1 or 0, so the SQ has a maximum score of 80 and a minimum of zero. In Study 1, we measured the SQ of n = 278 adults (114 males, 164 females) from a general population, to test for predicted sex differences (male superiority) in systemizing. All subjects were also given the Empathy Quotient (EQ) to test if previous reports of female superiority would be replicated. In Study 2 we employed the SQ and the EQ with n = 47 adults (33 males, 14 females) with Asperger syndrome (AS) or high–functioning autism (HFA), who are predicted to be either normal or superior at systemizing, but impaired at empathizing. Their scores were compared with n = 47 matched adults from the general population in Study 1. In Study 1, as predicted, normal adult males scored significantly higher than females on the SQ and significantly lower on the EQ. In Study 2, again as predicted, adults with AS/HFA scored significantly higher on the SQ than matched controls, and significantly lower on the EQ than matched controls. The SQ reveals both a sex difference in systemizing in the general population and an unusually strong drive to systemize in AS/HFA. These results are discussed in relation to two linked theories: the ‘empathizing–systemizing’ (E–S) theory of sex differences and the extreme male brain (EMB) theory of autism.

Asperger syndrome · Autism · Autism spectrum disorder · Developmental psychology · Empathy · High-functioning autism · Population · Psychiatry · Autism Spectrum Disorder Research · Child and Animal Learning Development · Child Development and Digital Technology · Clinical Psychology · Demography · Psychology

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