Heterogeneity and Hypersensitivity in Autism: Reflection on Uta Frith’s Comments
About a month ago, the eminent developmental psychologist and autism cognitive researcher Uta Frith shared a number of opinions publicly in short succession. First, Frith senior-authored (along with other scholars, including Simon Baron-Cohen as lead author) a paper defending the idea that autistic people sometimes struggle with theory of mind. I was somewhat disappointed the paper did not more fully engage with the relevant issues, but I don’t necessarily disagree with the conclusion. However, almost immediately afterward, an interview Frith…