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==Theories of causes of autism==

==Theories of causes of autism==

As noted above, there is a strong interest in whether a possible link exists between the increasing numbers of people being diagnosed with autism, and the use of thimerosal (which contains mercury) as a preservative in vaccines.

As noted above, there is a strong interest in whether a possible link exists between the increasing numbers of people being diagnosed with autism, and the use of thimerosal (which contains mercury) as a preservative in vaccines.

Simon Baron-Cohen, director of the Autism Research Centre at the [[University of Cambridge]] (U.K.) notes the strong evidence that males and females are hardwired for different behavior (in contrast to the [[politically correct]] notion that these different behaviors are just "[[gender role]]s"), with boys tending to be stronger at mechanics, categorizing and systemizing information, mathematics, etc. and girls stronger at emotionalizing and empathizing.  He has proposed that autism is merely an extreme version of the male brain type, in which the (female) urge to empathize is nearly absent and the brain is almost entirely hardwired for the (male) tasks of systemizing.<ref>Baron-Cohen, Simon.  ''The Essential Difference'', Basic Books 2003.</ref>

Simon Baron-Cohen, director of the Autism Research Centre at the [[University of Cambridge]] (U.K.) notes the strong evidence that males and females are hardwired for different behavior, with boys tending to be stronger at mechanics, categorizing and systemizing information, mathematics, etc. and girls stronger at emotionalizing and empathizing.  He has proposed that autism is merely an extreme version of the male brain type, in which the (female) urge to empathize is nearly absent and the brain is almost entirely hardwired for the (male) tasks of systemizing.<ref>Baron-Cohen, Simon.  ''The Essential Difference'', Basic Books 2003.</ref>

Leo Kanner in a 1949 paper identified "parental coldness" and a "lack of maternal warmth" in the parents of autistic children, leading to the term ''refrigerator mother''.  The theory here is autism is caused by incomplete [[socialization]] during early childhood because of emotionally cold parents.  The book ''Toxic Psychiatry'' by Peter Briggin notes that the frigid mother theory of autism was abandoned in recent years due to pressure groups (whose sense of [[political correctness]] was offended because the theory supposedly "blames" parents for the condition), not for any valid scientific reasons.<ref>Briggin, Peter R.  ''Toxic Psychiatry'', New York: St. Martin's Press, 1991.</ref>

Leo Kanner in a 1949 paper identified "parental coldness" and a "lack of maternal warmth" in the parents of autistic children, leading to the term ''refrigerator mother''.  The theory here is autism is caused by incomplete [[socialization]] during early childhood because of emotionally cold parents.  The book ''Toxic Psychiatry'' by Peter Briggin notes that the frigid mother theory of autism was abandoned in recent years due to pressure groups.<ref>Briggin, Peter R.  ''Toxic Psychiatry'', New York: St. Martin's Press, 1991.</ref>

Lenny Schafer, editor of the ''Schafer Autism Report'', rejects outright the current characterization of mild social retardation (such as "Asperger's syndrome") as forms of autism.  He notes that autism is a disability, and if a person is not disabled from participation in society by their condition, in such areas as being able to hold a job or communicate, including communication over the Internet, they are not autistic and should not be diagnosed as such.  He accordingly rejects that there can be such a thing as autistic self-advocacy, as anyone who is truly autistic would not have that ability.<ref>http://www.sarnet.org/</ref>

Lenny Schafer, editor of the ''Schafer Autism Report'', rejects outright the current characterization of mild social retardation (such as "Asperger's syndrome") as forms of autism.  He notes that autism is a disability, and if a person is not disabled from participation in society by their condition, in such areas as being able to hold a job or communicate, including communication over the Internet, they are not autistic and should not be diagnosed as such.  He accordingly rejects that there can be such a thing as autistic self-advocacy, as anyone who is truly autistic would not have that ability.<ref>http://www.sarnet.org/</ref>

All four of the above theories are denied by (and often disparaged by) [[liberal]]s, who have been promoting autism and the milder variant "Asperger's syndrome" as one of their latest variants on [[identity politics]], even going so far as to claim autism should not be cured because autistics were "born that way" and it is "who they are".  As with various theories of the causes of [[homosexuality]] that do not fit with the politically correct notions of "born that way" and "who they are", [[liberal]]s attack and disparage any theories of autism -- frigid mothers, thimerosal, inherently different male and female brain types -- that do not fit with their standards of political correctness.  Just as they insist that homosexuality is not an illness and does not need a cure, they are now insisting that autism does not need a cure either (and they are insisting the same thing with numerous other diseases, including [[deafness]]<ref>http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/458tonjc.asp Allen, Charlotte. "Identity Politics Gone Wild", ''[[Weekly Standard]]'' volume 12 issue 28</ref>).  ''Wired'' magazine has gone so far as to promote autism as a "geek syndrome", or essentially as a form of identity-politics-for-computer-nerds.<ref>http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aspergers_pr.html</ref>.  At the fringe those favoring this interpretation of autism have coined new terminology, including "neurodiversity" (trying to make autism part of the currently fashionable "[[diversity]]" buzzword), and "neurotypical" (their cheeky, disparaging term for those without autism.)

''Wired'' magazine has referred to autism as a "geek syndrome", or essentially as a form of identity-politics-for-computer-nerds.<ref>http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aspergers_pr.html</ref>.  Those favoring this interpretation of autism have coined new terminology, including "neurodiversity" for a population with and without autistic individuals , and using the term "neurotypical" for those without autism.

==External Links==

==External Links==