A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the A Level Psychology OCR Exam with confidence. Engage with in-depth flashcards and multiple-choice questions that provide hints and thorough explanations. Equip yourself to excel on your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What was one of the identified causes of autism according to Baron-Cohen et al.?

Central nervous system dysfunction
Heightened empathy
Higher levels of fetal testosterone
Environmental toxins

The correct answer is: Higher levels of fetal testosterone

The identified cause of autism according to Baron-Cohen et al. relates to the concept of higher levels of fetal testosterone. Baron-Cohen's research suggests that elevated levels of testosterone in the womb may play a significant role in the development of autistic traits. This is connected to the theory that testosterone influences brain development and may contribute to characteristics often observed in individuals with autism, such as systemizing ability over empathizing ability. This idea also ties into the broader "Extreme Male Brain" theory, which posits that autism may be linked to heightened male-typical cognitive styles, including a preference for systemizing and a reduced capacity for empathizing. Hence, the connection between fetal testosterone levels and the manifestation of autistic traits supports the rationale behind why higher levels of fetal testosterone are considered a potential cause of autism.