Auto/Biography 0967-5507 12 1 200403 Sage Publications Sage UK: London, England Book Review: Differing Cognitive Styles The essential difference. Simon Baron-Cohen, 2003. London: Penguin; ISBN 0713996714 paper, 263 pp., £7.99 paper CatherineLamont-RobinsonUniversity of Southampton 77 79

77 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. 78 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 79 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.