Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent challenges in social communication and interaction, along with restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. From a cognitive perspective, autism involves a distinctive profile: challenges in theory of mind, social cognition, and pragmatic language, often accompanied by strengths in systemizing, attention to detail, and pattern recognition.
Cognitive Theories
Three major cognitive theories have been proposed. The theory of mind deficit hypothesis (Baron-Cohen, Leslie, Frith) proposes that core social difficulties stem from impaired understanding of others' mental states. The weak central coherence theory (Frith) proposes a bias toward processing details at the expense of global meaning. The executive dysfunction theory proposes difficulties with planning, flexibility, and inhibition. Each captures part of the autism phenotype, and current understanding recognizes that ASD involves multiple cognitive differences rather than a single core deficit.
The neurodiversity movement reframes ASD not as a disorder to be cured but as a natural variation in human cognition. Autistic individuals often demonstrate exceptional abilities in areas such as pattern recognition, memory for details, systematic reasoning, and specialized interests. This perspective has influenced clinical practice toward supporting individuals' strengths while addressing specific challenges, rather than attempting to normalize behavior.