Photo: Justin Sutcliffe

 
Encounters at the cultural interface & the case of autism

Joint talk by Professors Chris and Uta Frith

Abstract: 

For successful coordination and communication, we need to perceive the world in a similar way. In the case of the physical world we take it for granted that we all perceive the same objective reality. This cognitive map provides the common knowledge needed for coordination. Similar maps underlie our perception of colour, of phonemes, and of semantics. But in these cases, there are important cultural effects.  The way we see colours, hear phonemes, and understand words is affected by the way our culture simplifies these maps for the purpose of communication.

We suggest that a similar mapping process applies to our perception of people. Culture has an effect on our representations of people and our understanding of the ways of being a person. The case of autism illustrates such effects. In recent history the concept of autism has changed dramatically. The prevalence of this diagnosis has increased 80-fold from and its definition has changed. We suggest that these changes occurred when the concept of autism escaped from the clinic and entered the cultural mainstream. We will consider the consequences of these changes.

Join us for a very special talk by Profs Uta and Chris Frith, dear friends of the IMC, and two very familiar and beloved faces in Aarhus. Both are internationally renowned pioneers in developmental psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and the science of social cognition. Uta Frith’s award-winning books on autism, dyslexia, and the learning brain have transformed scientific, educational, and public understanding, while Chris Frith’s influential books on schizophrenia, consciousness, agency, and the social mind have helped define modern cognitive neuroscience. Together, they are the authors of acclaimed and award-winning works including What Makes Us Social?, winner of a British Psychological Society Book Award, and Two Heads: A Graphic Exploration of How Our Brains Work with Other Brains, a celebrated graphic novel created with Alex Frith and Daniel Locke, which brings their lifelong research on minds, brains, and collaboration vividly to life.

See more here: https://frithmind.org/ 

All are welcome!