The systemizing quotient: an investigation of adults with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism, and normal sex differences
The systemizing quotient: an investigation of adults with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism, and normal sex differences
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DOI：
10.1098/rstb.2002.1206
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发表时间：
2003-02-28
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Wheelwright, S
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Baron-Cohen, S;Richler, J;Wheelwright, S
系统化是分析系统或构建系统的动力。最近的一个性别心理差异模型表明，这是性别差异的一个主要方面，男性比女性更容易被系统化所吸引。目前，没有自我报告的措施来评估这一重要方面。性别差异的第二个主要方面是共情（识别精神状态并以适当的情感回应的驱动力）。之前的研究发现，女性在同理心测试中得分更高。我们报告了一个新的自我报告问卷，系统化商数（SQ），用于正常智力的成年人。它包含40个系统化项目和20个控制项目。在每个系统化项目上，一个人可以得2分、1分或0分，所以SQ的最高得分为80分，最低得分为0分。在研究1中，我们从一般人群中测量了n = 278名成年人（114名男性，164名女性）的SQ，以检验在系统化过程中预测的性别差异（男性优势）。所有的研究对象还被给予了同理心商数（EQ），以测试之前关于女性优势的报告是否会被复制。在研究2中，我们对n = 47名患有阿斯伯格综合症（AS）或高功能自闭症（HFA）的成年人（33名男性，14名女性）进行了SQ和EQ测试，这些人被预测在系统化方面正常或优越，但在移情方面受损。他们的得分与研究1中来自普通人群的n = 47名匹配的成年人进行了比较。在研究1中，正如预测的那样，正常成年男性在SQ上的得分明显高于女性，在EQ上的得分明显低于女性。在研究2中，同样与预测一样，患有as /HFA的成年人得分。在SQ上明显高于匹配组，在EQ上明显低于匹配组。SQ揭示了一般人群在系统化方面的性别差异，以及AS/HFA中异常强烈的系统化驱动。这些结果与两个相互关联的理论：性别差异的“共情-系统化”（E-S）理论和自闭症的极端男性脑（EMB）理论进行了讨论。
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.