Autism: deficits in folk psychology exist alongside superiority in folk physics

Abstract

Abstract This volume concerns our everyday understanding of other minds, and how neuro-developmental factors can interfere with this ability. Our understanding of other minds is sometimes referred to as our folk psychology. According to Pinker, among others, the evolution of the human mind should be considered in terms of its evolved adaptedness to the environment (Pinker 1997). On this view, the brain needed to be able to maximize the survival of its host body in response to at least two broad challenges: predicting the physical and the social environment. The specialized cognitive domains of folk physics and folk psychology can be seen as adaptations to each of these. In this chapter I explore the possibility that a cognitive profile of superior folk physics alongside impaired folk psychology could arise for genetic reasons. This assumes that some brains are equally well adapted to understanding both the social and physical environment, whilst others are better adapted to understanding the physical environment and yet others are better adapted to understanding the social environment. Both clinical and experimental tests of this profile in children with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) will be reviewed.