It takes a while to get to the point, but this is what the page is about:<p><i>As we explained in a recent review paper, researchers have repeatedly found evidence that Autistic individuals are, on average, more consistent, less biased, and more rational than non-autistic individuals in a variety of contexts.<p>Specifically, many Autistic people seem to be less susceptible to cognitive biases, and therefore better able to make judgments and reach decisions in a more traditionally ‘rational’ manner.</i><p>Interesting if true; it could indicate that at least mild Autism is a beneficial adaptation. Though those biases probably came about for good reasons, it could be they've become obsolete and are no longer worth it.
It's good to see appreciation of different neurotypes for their strengths.<p>Many people with ASD put a lot of time and effort into learning and altering their natural behavior in order to better understand and interact in a way that is perceived as normal by nerutotypical people.<p>I'm hopeful the inverse will happen more over time as well, neurotypicals putting effort into learning and adjusting their own behavior to better interact with and understand autistic people.<p>Making it normal to include input from all neurotypes (as opposed to excluding) is a great step forwards.
One thing worth noting about the spectrum in autistic spectrum disorder is that it does <i>not</i> mean what many people assume it does, that it's referring to a range of severity with mild on one end and severe on the other.<p>Rather it's more a spectrum as in a spectrum of colors: there are a number of traits to autism, not all of which might be present in a person diagnosed with ASD so single-criteria tests like identify the emotions in these photographs, for example, don't really work as good diagnostic tools.<p>This article found with a quick Google search seems to sum up some of this reasonably well: <a href="https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisedu.org/what-is-meant-by-the-autism-spectrum/" rel="nofollow">https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisedu.org/what-is-meant-by-...</a>
> Imagine you have bought two non-refundable tickets to different trips, one much more costly. You are then told that you must cancel one of them. In this case, many people will cancel the cheaper trip regardless of which one they would prefer to go on – and even though they will have spent the same amount of money either way.<p>I think a better example to sunken cost bias could be found than this one as people usually pay more for trips that they prefer more in the first place.
My girlfriend was diagnosed with autism 3 weeks ago and we had a related conversation just today. She said she feels more open-minded / less biased than other people. I thought it was because her different experiences were invalidated by society throughout her life. But this makes it sound like there's more to it. Very interesting.
Basically theres a fundamental trade off between the ebb and flow of social interaction and cohesion, which follows predefined and implicit rules, and then the autistic ability to actually be objective/think rationally without being clouded by norms
It is very good to see more positive recognition for people that are neurodivergent including how we actually improve and fit into society as well.<p>I would argue that the greatest issue with neurotypical society over all is that it tends to value a singular mode of thinking and being as somehow inherently more valuable than others, failing to recognize that in our many differences we are actually stronger as a whole.
So "Autistic" is capitalized now?<p>First names of elements started being capitalized. Then there was the "Black" thing, followed by the "White" thing. We seem to be headed back to the 1700s, when Important Words were capitalized.
Doesn't everybody challenge these, pretty much? Any artificial "person-in-the-street" construct is unlikely to represent a living, breathing person.
>> Imagine you have bought two non-refundable tickets to different trips, one much more costly. You are then told that you must cancel one of them. In this case, many people will cancel the cheaper trip regardless of which one they would prefer to go on – and even though they will have spent the same amount of money either way. Autistic individuals appear to be more likely to make a choice based on their personal preference rather than on an irrelevant cost.<p>This is missing a hige piece of context. What about the possibility that you may later decide to repurchase whichever trip you decline now? My future cost is reduced by canceling the cheaper trip now. If both are in the realm of "I'd like to go there someday" and close in appeal, it is more rational to take the more expensive one. If we don't consider that larger (possible) context then obviously take the one you prefer the most.
ADHD people have a different calculus that affects their project management.<p>NonA-DHD typically respond to deadlines with increased urgency, commitment, and re-factoring assessments.<p>ADHD may respond to deadlines by abandoning tasks and starting new extraneous tasks.<p>Is that rational? It’s what happens, and since it is such a dramatic and consequential difference, it warrants a reconsideration of the meaning of the term “rational”, and it’s limitations.<p>ADHD isn’t an isolated minority. It’s a transient condition in a significant number of people, prevalent enough in the population to make economic text books about monolithic “rationality” unfit for purpose.
The rational man as a concept is still used nowadays as often as it is, that itself is a proof that the concept is as broken as it can be. The modern consumer economy is based on irrationality.
In psychology undergrad, I read about a study of anorexic people: they had people rate their own attractiveness, and had strangers rate their attractiveness. Normal population consistently rated themselves higher in attractiveness than strangers did on average. However, anorexic's self ratings were much closer to stranger-ratings.<p>(May not be remembering this correctly and I assume this study was done in the 90s when thinness was more in fashion - wouldn't be surprised if it didn't replicate if done today)<p>See also: dunning kruger effect.<p>My takeaway is that the 'normal' human brain lies to itself in many ways which protect the ego. Some disorders are caused not by disconnection from reality, but rather too accurate a view of reality.<p>I wouldn't be surprised if there are many autistic traits that have a similar origin: the brains socio-protective instinctual lies are failing, and autistic people are actually acting more rationally.
"Autistic individuals are, on average, more consistent, less biased, and more rational than non-autistic individuals in a variety of contexts. (We use identity-first language, eg, ‘Autistic people’, as it is preferred by many people on the autism spectrum.)"<p>Hmmm. What are they implying by that parenthetical comment placement?
The ironic part is that the non-autistic people wont trust autistic peoples valuable non-biased opinions because of their bias against non-conforming people.