Scott Alexander examines whether psychiatric conditions result from evolutionary failures or tradeoffs, proposing that most disorders involve a combination of both. Longer summary

Scott Alexander explores the nature of psychiatric conditions, discussing whether they result from evolutionary failures or tradeoffs. He presents evidence for both hypotheses, noting that recent research favors the failure hypothesis. However, he argues that some conditions likely involve both failures and tradeoffs. He uses analogies from justice systems and nuclear war scenarios to illustrate how failures and tradeoffs can interact. The post concludes by suggesting that most psychiatric disorders exist on a spectrum from mostly-tradeoff to mostly-failure, and critiques the neurodiversity movement's blanket statements about conditions like autism. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander examines the paradoxical relationship between autism and intelligence, discussing genetic and environmental factors, and proposing explanatory models for the observed lower IQ in autistic individuals despite genetic links to higher intelligence. Longer summary

Scott Alexander explores the paradoxical relationship between autism and intelligence. While genetic studies show a link between autism risk genes and high IQ, autistic individuals generally have lower intelligence than neurotypical controls. The post discusses three main causes of autism: common 'familial' genes that increase IQ, rare 'de novo' mutations that are often detrimental, and non-genetic factors like obstetric complications. Scott examines various studies and proposes that even after adjusting for mutations and environmental factors, autism still seems to decrease IQ. He introduces a 'tower-vs-foundation' model to explain this phenomenon, where intelligence needs a strong foundation to support it, and an imbalance can lead to autism. The post concludes with a list of findings and their associated confidence levels. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander critiques the autism rights movement's opposition to curing autism, arguing that severe cases cause immense suffering that justifies continued research into cures. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses the autism rights movement and their opposition to curing autism. While supporting most of their work, he disagrees with the stance against cures. He argues that severe autism causes immense suffering that cannot be alleviated solely through better treatment, and that research into cures should continue. He acknowledges the benefits autism can bring, but believes the costs outweigh them for many individuals. The post examines outcomes for autistic adults, issues with institutionalization, and ethical considerations around curing or preventing autism. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander explores the idea that people might be missing universal human experiences without realizing it, using examples from various senses and personal anecdotes. Longer summary

Scott Alexander explores the concept of missing universal human experiences without realizing it. He starts with Galton's experiments on visual imagination, then discusses a conversation about food preferences, and shares stories about anosmia and color blindness. He reflects on his own experiences with asexuality and emotional blunting from SSRIs. The post concludes by questioning whether differences in experiences, like appreciating jazz music, might have biological roots rather than just social ones. Shorter summary