Atheism and autism
In 2011, the University of Boston published a study on the correlation between atheism and high-functioning/mild autism.[1][2]
On September 19, 2011, the Discover Magazine website had an article indicating that there were empirical results showing a positive correlation between atheism and high functioning autism and the article declared:
“ | This is why the empirical results on the correlation between atheism and high functioning autism are important...
...some people were angry that I seemed to suggest that atheists were antisocial weirdos. Well, there is some data to back that up.[3] |
” |
Contents
- 1 Atheist science writer Matthew Hutson on atheism and autism studies
- 2 LiveScience.com on atheism and autism
- 3 Atheist PZ Myers' blog audience and their reported Asperger's quotient test results
- 4 Causes of autism related to factors which exist in secular societies in the developed world
- 5 Autism and some data from secular Europe, atheistic China and religious countries
- 6 Atheism and autism correlations: Accusations of press insensitivity in Turkey
- 7 See also
- 8 External links
- 9 Notes
Atheist science writer Matthew Hutson on atheism and autism studies
On May 30, 2012, Matthew Hutson wrote at Psychology Today website that the findings of the study at Boston University entitled Religious Belief Systems of Persons with High Functioning Autism have been replicated by other studies.[4]
Hutson also wrote about atheism and autism:
“ | Ara Norenzayan and Will Gervais of the University of British Columbia and Kali Trzesniewski of UC Davis report on four studies. The first study replicates the finding of the BU research: 12 autistic and 13 neurotypical adolescents took part, and the neurotypical subjects were 10 times as likely to strongly endorse God.
The other three studies went further. They included hundreds of participants from a variety of demographics in the U.S. and Canada and used various measures of belief in God and of mentalizing abilities. The results of all three followed the same pattern. First, people with higher scores on the Autism Spectrum Quotient (items included "I am fascinated by numbers," and "I find social situations [difficult]") had weaker belief in a personal God. Second, reduced ability to mentalize mediated this correlation. (Mentalizing was measured with the Empathy Quotient, which assesses self-reported ability to recognize and react to others' emotions, and with a task that requires identifying what's being expressed in pictures of eyes. Systematizing -- interest in and aptitude for mechanical and abstract systems -- was correlated with autism but was not a mediator.) Third, men were much less likely than women to say they strongly believed in a personal God (even controlling for autism), and this correlation was also mediated by reduced mentalizing.[6] |
” |
LiveScience.com on atheism and autism
Stephanie Pappas wrote at the science website Livescience.com:
“ | Autism — and people's ability to empathize with others' thoughts and feelings — runs along a spectrum, so next, the researchers turned to a sample of 327 Canadian college students to see if more autismlike traits (but not a clinical diagnosis) might be related to belief in God. The students filled out online questionnaires about the strength of their belief as well as a survey designed to place them on the autism spectrum. This survey, the Autism Spectrum Quotient, asks participants to agree or disagree with statements such as, "I find social situations easy," and "I prefer to do things the same way over and over again."
The students also filled out surveys regarding their ability to empathize with others and their ability to systematize, or reason about mechanical and physical objects and processes (an engineer would likely be good at systemization, for example). Believers and disbelievers The study found that the higher the autism score, the less likely the person was to believe in God, with the link partially explained by theory of mind. In other words, the better someone felt at understanding other's minds, the more fervent their belief in God. The researchers repeated the experiment twice in American adults, with slight variations in the sorts of questions asked. In two separate nationwide samples, one with 706 participants and one with 452, they again found that autistic traits decreased belief. In both studies, theory of mind explained the differences between believers and nonbelievers. These samples were not nationally representative, but did include a broad array of beliefs and cultural backgrounds. These studies are correlational, so researchers can't say for sure whether an inability to imagine other minds actually leads to atheism or agnosticism or whether the link is caused by something else. The researchers did control for religious service attendance, assuming that the socially inept might be less likely to flex their mentalizing muscles by mingling at church each week. That analysis showed that religious service attendance could not explain the link between autismlike traits and belief.[7] |
” |
Atheist PZ Myers' blog audience and their reported Asperger's quotient test results
Vox Day has written about atheists being "socially autistic".[8][9][10]
Asperger's syndrome (sometimes referred to as "High-Functioning Autism" or "HFA") is an umbrella term used to classify problematic behaviours similar to, but less severe than, those within the lower reaches of the autistic spectrum.
Day wrote concerning atheist PZ Myers' blog audience:
“ | It's by no means a scientific test, but it is interesting to note the coincidence that 59 of the virulent atheists over at Dr. PZ Myers place report an average score on the Asperger's Quotient test of 27.8. And this does not include the two individuals who actually have Asperger's but did not report any test results."
As PZ himself said: "I took the test and scored a 24, an “average math contest winner.” You need a 32 to suggest Asperger’s, and a 15 is the average. So there. I don’t have Asperger’s, I’m just cruel and insensitive."[11] |
” |
In 2011, Jonathan Rabinovitz published in Scope, a publication of Stanford Medicine: "Autism has sometimes been described as a disease of industrialized high-technology societies."[16] For example, evidence suggests that environmental toxins are a causal factor of autism.[17] See also: Causes of Autism - Mayo Clinic.
In 2013, the Washington Times said about the causes of autism: "The causes of autism are not understood, and recent studies have found associations between childhood autism and multiple births, preterm births, low birthweights, maternal obesity, having a full sibling with autism and having older parents."[18]
Case Adams, N.D. declared:
“ | Recent research from the University of California at Davis has found autism to be linked with the accumulation of toxins within fat cells. This finding corresponds with previous research linking autism to immunosuppression, toxin antibodies and environmental exposures for the mother, which links to toxicity and immunosuppression.
The new research, led by Paula Krakowiak, PhD candidate, analyzed 1,000 children and found that autism was 67% more likely among children from obese mothers.[19] |
” |
Many atheists are overweight/obese (See: Atheism, autism and obesity and Atheism and obesity).
Professor Eric Kaufmann in his book Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth and in some of the his other works points out the religious have higher fertility rates then secular women and that secular women often delay having children until they are older.[20]
Atheism, autism, alcoholism, illegal drug use, depression and other factors
Secular societies and many atheists have significant problems with alcoholism (See: Atheism and alcoholism). The link between alcoholism and autism needs to be explored further based various pieces of existing data.[22][23][24] A significant number of atheists have problems with illegal drug use as well (see: Atheism and drug addiction). Cocaine use by expecting mothers may be a cause of autism according to the medical literature.[25]
Atheists have higher rates of depression and suicide than theists (see: Atheism and depression and Atheism and suicide). The use of antidepressants by mothers during pregnancy increases the risk of autism spectrum disorders in children, according to a Swedish study.[26] Secular societies and atheists tend to experience loneliness more also (see: Atheism and loneliness).
Air pollution is thought to be a potential cause of autism as far as expecting mothers and in the Western World atheists tend to live in urban environments rather than rural environments.[27] According to Annie Laurie Gaylor of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, "It’s still lonely being an atheist in rural America."[28] On the other hand, in some areas of the Western World, religious immigrants often live in urban areas.[29]
Autism appears to be rare in religious Africa
Although there have been no formal epidemiological studies, the evidence suggests that autism is rare in the economically developing continent of Africa and mainly exists within elite families.[30][31] In addition, the traditional African diet is healthier than many Western World individuals' diets and Africa has some of the lowest obesity rates in the world.[32] See: Atheism and obesity. Furthermore, Africa is a religious continent with high birth rates.[33]
Low rate of autism among the religious American Amish
See also: Amish
The American Amish have low autism rates which may be due to their healthy and simple lifestyle, their genetic makeup or both.[35] Due to their high levels of physical activity, the Amish have low rates of obesity.[36] Many atheists do not live a wholesome life (see: Atheism and alcoholism and Atheism and drug addiction and Atheism and health and Moral failures of the atheist population).
David N. Brown states that: "In March 2006, Drs. Kevin Strauss, Holmes Morton and others documented 9 autistic Amish children, which could raise the autism rate of the Lancaster Amish community Olmsted supposedly investigated to almost 1/5,000 which is still a fraction of the US average of 1/68."[37][38][39]
The Amish have high a fertility rate and in 2012 the Amish were named the fastest growing faith group in the United States. The Amish population is projected to grow to 1 million people by 2050.[40]
Autism and some data from secular Europe, atheistic China and religious countries
See: Autism and some data from secular Europe, atheistic China and religious countries
Atheism and autism correlations: Accusations of press insensitivity in Turkey
The notion that autism causes atheism has not been proved and criticisms of press insensitivity towards the issue have been leveled in Turkey.[41]
See also
External links
- Religious Belief Systems of Persons with High Functioning Autism, copy of study from Boston University (PDF)
Notes
- ↑ Religious Belief Systems of Persons with High Functioning Autism, Catherine Caldwell-Harris, Caitlin Fox Murphy and Tessa Velazquez at the Department of Psychology - Boston University); Patrick McNamara (Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine)
- ↑ Is atheism linked to autism? Controversial study points to relationship between the two, Daily Mail, 20 September 2011
- ↑ What atheism and autism may have in common By Razib Khan, September 19, 2011]
- ↑ Does Autism Lead to Atheism?, Psychology Today, May 30, 2012 by Matthew Hutson]
- ↑ Woodbury-Smith MR, Robinson J, Wheelwright S, Baron-Cohen S (2005). "Screening adults for Asperger Syndrome using the AQ: a preliminary study of its diagnostic validity in clinical practice" (PDF). J Autism Dev Disord 35 (3): 331–5.
- ↑ Are People With Autism More Likely to Be Atheists? by Matthew Hutson, Huffington Post
- ↑ Autism May Diminish Belief in God, Stephanie Pappas, LiveScience.com
- ↑ The socially autistic atheist by Vox Day, August 02, 2007
- ↑ A lesson in atheist social autism by Vox Day, August 13, 2014
- ↑ Atheists and Daddy issues by Vox Day, August 23, 2012
- ↑ PZ admits he's wrong by Theodore Beale, Friday, August 29, 2014
- ↑ Autism in Africa?, Jonathan Rabinovitz published in Scope, a publication of Stanford Medicine, 2011
- ↑ Out of Africa and Into Autism: More Evidence Illuminates the Somali Anomaly in Minnesota, By Mark F. Blaxill, AgeofAutism.com website (I don't agree with the anti-vaccine portion of the article)
- ↑
- ↑ The African apostles: How Christianity exploded in 20th-century Africa
- ↑ Autism in Africa?, Jonathan Rabinovitz published in Scope, a publication of Stanford Medicine, 2011
- ↑ Autism and Toxic Chemicals: Are Pollutants Fueling Rising Prevalence?
- ↑ Autism rates rise in U.S., plateau in U.K.
- ↑ Autism Linked to Toxin Exposure During Pregnancy
- ↑ Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth, Eric Kaufmann, 2011, page 280, footnote 13[1]
- ↑ World Health Organization's (WHO) regional office in Europe- Alcohol usage of Europe
- ↑ Pharmacol Res. 2015 Sep 25;102:71-80. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2015.09.011. Epigenetic mechanisms: A possible link between autism spectrum disorders and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Varadinova M1, Boyadjieva N2.
- ↑ Alcohol and Autism, AlcoholRehab.com
- ↑ Int J Epidemiol. 2010 Aug;39(4):1074-81. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyq056. Epub 2010 Apr 5. Prenatal alcohol exposure and autistic spectrum disorders--a population-based prospective study of 80,552 children and their mothers. Eliasen M1, Tolstrup JS, Nybo Andersen AM, Grønbaek M, Olsen J, Strandberg-Larsen K.
- ↑ Reprod Toxicol. 2015 Aug 15;56:155-69. doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2015.05.007. Epub 2015 May 27. Prenatal factors associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Ornoy A1, Weinstein-Fudim L2, Ergaz Z3.
- ↑ Study: Autism Linked to Antidepressant Drug Use During Pregnancy
- ↑ Reprod Toxicol. 2015 Aug 15;56:155-69. doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2015.05.007. Epub 2015 May 27. Prenatal factors associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Ornoy A1, Weinstein-Fudim L2, Ergaz Z3.
- ↑ [http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2014/05/24/atheists-in-the-bible-belt-a-survival-guide/ Atheists in the Bible Belt, CNN
- ↑ Counting Immigrants in Cities across the Globe
- ↑ Autism in Africa?, Jonathan Rabinovitz published in Scope, a publication of Stanford Medicine, 2011
- ↑ Out of Africa and Into Autism: More Evidence Illuminates the Somali Anomaly in Minnesota, By Mark F. Blaxill, AgeofAutism.com website (I don't agree with the anti-vaccine portion of the article)
- ↑
- ↑ Christianity/Islam and Africa
- ↑
- 4 healthy habits to steal from the Amish, Fox News Health, December 04, 2014
- ↑
- 4 healthy habits to steal from the Amish, Fox News Health, December 04, 2014
- "Amish Have Lower Rates of Cancer, Ohio State Study Shows". Columbus, OH: Ohio State University Medical Center. January 1, 2010. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
- Puffenberger, EG; Jinks, RN; Wang, H; Xin, B; Fiorentini, C; Sherman, EA; Degrazio, D; Shaw, C; Sougnez, C; Cibulskis, K; Gabriel, S; Kelley, RI; Morton, DH; Strauss, KA (Dec 2012). "A homozygous missense mutation in HERC2 associated with global developmental delay and autism spectrum disorder". Human Mutation 33 (12): 1639–1646
- Jackman, C; Horn, ND; Molleston, JP; Sokol, DK (Apr 2009). "Gene associated with seizures, autism, and hepatomegaly in an Amish girl". Pediatric Neurology 40 (4): 310–313.
- Alarcón, Maricela; Abrahams, Brett S.; Stone, Jennifer L.; Duvall, Jacqueline A.; Perederiy, Julia V.; Bomar, Jamee M.; Sebat, Jonathan; Wigler, Michael; Martin, Christa L.; Ledbetter, David H.; Nelson, Stanley F.; Cantor, Rita M.; Geschwind, Daniel H. (10 January 2008). "Linkage, Association, and Gene-Expression Analyses Identify CNTNAP2 as an Autism-Susceptibility Gene". American Journal of Human Genetics 82 (1): 150–159
- ↑
- 4 healthy habits to steal from the Amish, Fox News Health, December 04, 2014
- ↑ Puffenberger, EG; Jinks, RN; Wang, H; Xin, B; Fiorentini, C; Sherman, EA; Degrazio, D; Shaw, C; Sougnez, C; Cibulskis, K; Gabriel, S; Kelley, RI; Morton, DH; Strauss, KA (Dec 2012). "A homozygous missense mutation in HERC2 associated with global developmental delay and autism spectrum disorder". Human Mutation 33 (12): 1639–1646
- ↑ Jackman, C; Horn, ND; Molleston, JP; Sokol, DK (Apr 2009). "Gene associated with seizures, autism, and hepatomegaly in an Amish girl". Pediatric Neurology 40 (4): 310–313.
- ↑ Alarcón, Maricela; Abrahams, Brett S.; Stone, Jennifer L.; Duvall, Jacqueline A.; Perederiy, Julia V.; Bomar, Jamee M.; Sebat, Jonathan; Wigler, Michael; Martin, Christa L.; Ledbetter, David H.; Nelson, Stanley F.; Cantor, Rita M.; Geschwind, Daniel H. (10 January 2008). "Linkage, Association, and Gene-Expression Analyses Identify CNTNAP2 as an Autism-Susceptibility Gene". American Journal of Human Genetics 82 (1): 150–159
- ↑ For Amish, fastest-growing faith group in US, life is changing
- ↑ Likening of autistic kids to atheists causes fury, ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News, April/22/2013