AUTISM AND MORAL REASONING

Background: Autism research on the cognitive level has been dominated by three main models: Executive Dysfunction, Central Coherence and Theory of Mind/Empathising-Systemising. However, none of these models seem able to fully explain all of the behavioural features of the condition. More recently a theory has been developed to address this problem and move towards a synthesis of the main models by drawing on a distinction made within philosophy between open and closed systems.

Objectives: This new theory posits that a) biases towards open and closed systems can be used to conceptualise autism b) such biases exist in the general population c) these biases shape general cognition. To examine these ideas a new test was designed, the Moral Orientation Questionnaire (MOQ), to focus on one specific area of cognition; moral reasoning. The test comprised twenty moral dilemmas. Each was accompanied by a choice of two courses of action – one based on open system reasoning and one on closed. The test also featured two kinds of dilemma: a) the participant was the key character in the dilemma and b) a third party was the key character in the dilemma.

Methods: The MOQ was applied to three groups: males with Asperger syndrome (n25); males without Asperger syndrome (n49), and females without Asperger syndrome (n46). Total open system and closed system choices were calculated for each participant and group averages were compared.

Results: Significant differences were found between all three groups. These are discussed in terms of the current theory, the extreme male brain theory and the previous three cognitive models. Implications regarding general moral reasoning are raised.

Conclusions: The distinction between open and closed systems seems to be useful in conceptualising not only the autism spectrum but also cognitive sex differences in the general population.