--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we think about the autism spectrum as…" description: "\"If we think about the autism spectrum as involving a very strong drive to systemize, that can have very positive consequences for the individual and fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/simon-baron-cohen-12415_autism_if-we-think-about-the-autism-spectrum-as_1918358.png" --- # If we think about the autism spectrum as involving a very… ![“If we think about the autism spectrum as involving a very strong drive to systemize, that can have very positive consequences for the individual and for society. The downside is that when you try to systemize certain parts of the world like people and emotions, those sorts of phenomena are less…” quote by Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/simon-baron-cohen-12415_autism_if-we-think-about-the-autism-spectrum-as_1918358.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/simon-baron-cohen-12415_autism_if-we-think-about-the-autism-spectrum-as_1918358.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/simon-baron-cohen-12415_autism_if-we-think-about-the-autism-spectrum-as_1918358.png) > “If we think about the autism spectrum as involving a very strong drive to systemize, that can have very positive consequences for the individual and for society. The downside is that when you try to systemize certain parts of the world like people and emotions, those sorts of phenomena are less lawful and harder to systemize.” [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A strong drive to systemize can yield valuable contributions, but applying it to people and emotions is limited because they resist strict rules. **In simple terms:** Systemizing helps in many areas but struggles with human complexity. Key Takeaway Leverage systemizing where it fits, accept its limits with people. Themes psychology neurodiversity strengths\_and\_challenges societal\_impact Mood reflective analytical Type insightful critical When to use this quote - technology design - education - workplace collaboration - social interactions Key Concepts systemizing cognitive\_style emotional\_complexity Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance systematic strengths with emotional nuance? - When does systemizing become counterproductive in social contexts? A Different Perspective Systemizing cannot capture the fluid, unpredictable nature of human emotions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autism/) [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [People think about autism as something with kids. Well, those kids grow up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-katims/people-think-about-autism-as-something-with-kids-well-those-kids-grow/) [Jason Katims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-katims/) > [Let me see if I can put this in scientific terms: Think of autism like a fart, and vaccines are the finger you pull…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-mccarthy/let-me-see-if-i-can-put-this-in-scientific-terms-think-of-autism-like/) [Jenny McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-mccarthy/) > [Autism spectrum disorders are linked to other problems: Most of the people we see in our Asperger clinic for adults also suffer from clinical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/autism-spectrum-disorders-are-linked-to-other-problems-most-of-the/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [I have two boys on the autism spectrum. I don't always know what's best for them. However, I know there is grace for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/i-have-two-boys-on-the-autism-spectrum-i-don-t-always-know-what-s/) [Sho Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/) > [“I've met so many parents of the kids who are on the low end of the autism spectrum, kids who are diametrically opposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-ve-met-so-many-parents-of-the-kids-who-are-on-the-low-end-of-the/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [My autism is a very mild form. It was diagnosed at the age of 25, partly because it wasn't diagnosable as a teenager (this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tammet/my-autism-is-a-very-mild-form-it-was-diagnosed-at-the-age-of-25/) [Daniel Tammet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tammet/) > [It is never too late to expand the mind of a person on the autism spectrum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/it-is-never-too-late-to-expand-the-mind-of-a-person-on-the-autism/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [One in 150 kids is autistic these days. The autism spectrum is growing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-ford/one-in-150-kids-is-autistic-these-days-the-autism-spectrum-is-growing/) [Luke Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-ford/) > [I think one of the problems with the definition of autism is we keep expanding it. It started as "early infantile autism", and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/i-think-one-of-the-problems-with-the-definition-of-autism-is-we-keep/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) > [We're very interested in helping individuals on the autism spectrum cope and learn about social interactions and regulating emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rana-el-kaliouby/we-re-very-interested-in-helping-individuals-on-the-autism-spectrum/) [Rana el Kaliouby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rana-el-kaliouby/) > [“Musk sits somewhere on the autism spectrum and that he has trouble considering other people’s emotions and caring about their well-being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-vance/musk-sits-somewhere-on-the-autism-spectrum-and-that-he-has-trouble/) [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) > [I have Asperger's, I'm on the autism spectrum, so I don't really care about social codes. It makes you think differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/i-have-asperger-s-i-m-on-the-autism-spectrum-so-i-don-t-really-care/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [With the incredible rate of growth of autism diagnoses in New Jersey, it is critical that we support the research, education, and access to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikie-sherrill/with-the-incredible-rate-of-growth-of-autism-diagnoses-in-new-jersey/) [Mikie Sherrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikie-sherrill/) > [“Be that as it may, some of those that would no longer be diagnosed “autistic” today were diagnosed on the autism spectrum and accepted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-d-taylor/be-that-as-it-may-some-of-those-that-would-no-longer-be-diagnosed/) [Thomas D. Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-d-taylor/) > [In fact, when we as neuro-typical people encounter a person with autism spectrum syndrome who's always been that way it is that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamlyn-tomita/in-fact-when-we-as-neuro-typical-people-encounter-a-person-with/) [Tamlyn Tomita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamlyn-tomita/) ## More by Simon Baron-Cohen > [People with psychopathy are very good at reading the minds of their victims. That's probably most clearly seen in deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/people-with-psychopathy-are-very-good-at-reading-the-minds-of-their/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [In the person with autism, the brain may already be seeing the part and be less distracted by the whole, and in the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/in-the-person-with-autism-the-brain-may-already-be-seeing-the-part/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [Difficulty empathising translates into a whole set of hurdles. You might be last person to get the point of a joke, which can leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/difficulty-empathising-translates-into-a-whole-set-of-hurdles-you/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [The female brain is predominantly hard-wired for empathy. The male brain is predominantly hard-wired for understanding and building systems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/the-female-brain-is-predominantly-hard-wired-for-empathy-the-male/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [The idea of a cure for autism is itself controversial. Some people with autism say they don't want to be cured, because autism gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/the-idea-of-a-cure-for-autism-is-itself-controversial-some-people/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [Autistic people's disabilities are widely known, but one of their best-established strengths is their attention to detail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/autistic-people-s-disabilities-are-widely-known-but-one-of-their-best/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [If you have a child with autism, and he or she has good intelligence, with no delay in language learning maybe there is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/if-you-have-a-child-with-autism-and-he-or-she-has-good-intelligence/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [I try to keep an open mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/i-try-to-keep-an-open-mind/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [Autism spectrum disorders are linked to other problems: Most of the people we see in our Asperger clinic for adults also suffer from clinical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/autism-spectrum-disorders-are-linked-to-other-problems-most-of-the/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [What we want is that one day every workplace will be diverse - we already encourage that with gender and ethnicity, but the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/what-we-want-is-that-one-day-every-workplace-will-be-diverse-we/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [When I first started in this field there were all kinds of stereotypes about autism, as if these were children from another planet, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/when-i-first-started-in-this-field-there-were-all-kinds-of/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [A diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome can be useful to help a person understand why they have had difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/a-diagnosis-of-asperger-syndrome-can-be-useful-to-help-a-person/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [Empathy is a necessary step for truth and reconciliation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/empathy-is-a-necessary-step-for-truth-and-reconciliation/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [Because people with autism are also strongly obsessional, meaning that they pursue their current interest to extraordinary detail and lengths and in great depth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/because-people-with-autism-are-also-strongly-obsessional-meaning-that/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [Empathy is a skill like any other human skill - and if you get a chance to practice, you can get better at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/empathy-is-a-skill-like-any-other-human-skill-and-if-you-get-a-chance/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) [Explore all 55 Simon Baron-Cohen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) ## More Autism quotes > [“We know that children with autism like order, that they are often very visual and that they can be quite literal. They deserve beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele-devine/we-know-that-children-with-autism-like-order-that-they-are-often-very/) [Adele Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele-devine/) > [In fact, when we as neuro-typical people encounter a person with autism spectrum syndrome who's always been that way it is that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamlyn-tomita/in-fact-when-we-as-neuro-typical-people-encounter-a-person-with/) [Tamlyn Tomita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamlyn-tomita/) > [If you give us a safe vaccine, we'll use it. It shouldn't be polio versus autism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-mccarthy/if-you-give-us-a-safe-vaccine-we-ll-use-it-it-shouldn-t-be-polio/) [Jenny McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-mccarthy/) > [Autism is a big continuum, going from someone who remains nonverbal, all the way up to geniuses on Silicon Valley. And some kids are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/autism-is-a-big-continuum-going-from-someone-who-remains-nonverbal/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Metaphor isn't just a fancy turn of speech. It shapes our thoughts and feelings, reaches out to grasp new experience, and even binds our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-richardson/metaphor-isn-t-just-a-fancy-turn-of-speech-it-shapes-our-thoughts-and/) [James Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-richardson/) > [The position of Autism Speaks has been for quite awhile that we need to find out what's happening. We know there's a genetic component,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-emken/the-position-of-autism-speaks-has-been-for-quite-awhile-that-we-need/) [Elizabeth Emken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-emken/) > [Some people with autism who don't talk, all they hear are vowel sounds. Like if I said 'cup,' they might just hear 'uh.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/some-people-with-autism-who-don-t-talk-all-they-hear-are-vowel-sounds/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/children-must-be-taught-how-to-think-not-what-to-think/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Mild autism can give you a genius like Einstein. If you have severe autism, you could remain nonverbal. You don't want people to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/mild-autism-can-give-you-a-genius-like-einstein-if-you-have-severe/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [“The autistic mind is not the wave at the surface of the ocean, but the whole world that exists below.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krissy-bells/the-autistic-mind-is-not-the-wave-at-the-surface-of-the-ocean-but-the/) Krissy Bells > [In the person with autism, the brain may already be seeing the part and be less distracted by the whole, and in the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/in-the-person-with-autism-the-brain-may-already-be-seeing-the-part/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [I think that the definition of autism is too broad. You got to remember, autism definition is a behavioral profiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/i-think-that-the-definition-of-autism-is-too-broad-you-got-to/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [There is a small segment of people with autism that have savant skills, where they can memorize entire maps of whole entire city. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/there-is-a-small-segment-of-people-with-autism-that-have-savant/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [When you have autism or aspergers, it's so hard to get a social life but trust me, in the end everyone can achieve at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia/when-you-have-autism-or-aspergers-it-s-so-hard-to-get-a-social-life/) Lia > [“Unfortunately, by this time it didn't matter. Self-diagnosed autistics and fakers were asking diagnosed autistics whether or not they had a diagnosis, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-d-taylor/unfortunately-by-this-time-it-didn-t-matter-self-diagnosed-autistics/) [Thomas D. Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-d-taylor/) [Browse all 621 Autism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we think about the autism spectrum as involving a very strong drive to systemize, that can have very positive consequences for the individual and for society. 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