Baren-Cohen et al (2005) developed this theory which is a biological theory.
It identified that males and females are typically stronger at specific tasks – males tend to excel at mental rotation, targeting objects, mathematical reasoning and systemising whereas females tend to excel at language tasks, empathy, matching tasks and pretend play in childhood.
It is thought that these differences are caused by the presence of testosterone in the womb during the development of the foetus. Male embryos release testosterone at about 8 weeks, causing their brains to develop differently.
Females have superior social and communication skills and autism involves a lack of these skills. Autism then, is seen as an extreme version of the male brain – it is the result of a brain structure that leads to extreme characteristics of a typically male brain.
Females are better empathisers while males are better systemisers. Autistic people have poor empathising ability, but high systemising ability.