Zero Degrees of Empathy
Simon Baron Cohen
Guardian review by Dorothy Rowe 16 04 11
Developmental psychologists have shown that what interests newborn babies most is faces. [they] form a bond with a mothering figure. Out of this bond comes the skill of empathy. However, when babies have no opportunity to form this bond they do not develop the skill of empathy... My sister... had been very unlucky to be born to a mother who could not cope with the experience of childbirth, and who became angry and withdrawn for six months or more...other peoples behaviour was often a mystery to her'.
Someone else I know also has a sister whose mother suffered from post-natal depression and the sister does not find it easy to deal with people, far preferring the company of animals. She does exhibit symptoms that could be described on the autism spectrum.
Guardian review by Dorothy Rowe 16 04 11
Developmental psychologists have shown that what interests newborn babies most is faces. [they] form a bond with a mothering figure. Out of this bond comes the skill of empathy. However, when babies have no opportunity to form this bond they do not develop the skill of empathy... My sister... had been very unlucky to be born to a mother who could not cope with the experience of childbirth, and who became angry and withdrawn for six months or more...other peoples behaviour was often a mystery to her'.
Someone else I know also has a sister whose mother suffered from post-natal depression and the sister does not find it easy to deal with people, far preferring the company of animals. She does exhibit symptoms that could be described on the autism spectrum.
posted by Edward Barker at 1:58 AM
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