Could Autism Be an Evolutionary Step Forward?

[Quixote1818]

10. You're right, classical evolutionary theory does focus on traits that improve individual reproductive success. However

evolution isn’t always straightforward. Traits that might not directly increase reproduction can persist if they contribute to the group’s survival or if they’re linked genetically to other advantageous traits.

For example, intense focus, pattern recognition, or deep systemizing might have helped early human groups find food, track seasons, or develop tools benefiting the community even if the individual’s reproductive success wasn’t directly increased.

Also, traits often persist simply because they don’t prevent reproduction entirely. Neurodiversity isn’t necessarily “selected against”; it can coexist alongside other traits that do confer advantages.

So thinking about autism in evolutionary terms isn’t saying it’s automatically a “superpower,” but rather that these differences may have had adaptive value in certain contexts, and today, they help drive innovation, science, and creative problem-solving.