# Autism 'extreme male brain' pioneer now says term is unhelpful

Simon Baron-Cohen, the psychologist who coined the "extreme male brain" theory of autism, now says the phrase is unhelpful and can be misleading. He believes it can reinforce stereotypes and does not fully capture the diversity of autistic experiences. This shift matters because it may change how autism is discussed in research and public understanding.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Health
- [The Guardian Health](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jul/05/autism-extreme-male-brain-simon-baron-cohen) — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 14:02:46 GMT