Can you diagnose autism by looking at pictures of eyes?

That's the theory behind the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), which was recently featured in Season 2 of 'The Rehearsal'. But this autism assessment has a wild history, and its origins are convoluted enough to make Nathan Fielder blush.

Today, we're breaking down the story of how the RMET was developed and whether the results are clinically relevant. We also explore the broader implications of Theory of Mind assessments that researchers love to give to autistic people.

This episode has random magazine clippings, animated triangle families, bad doodles, and more. Tune in to see how all these pieces of the puzzle fit together!

References:

• Free online RMET assessment
• Theory of Mind Overview
• Basic Emotions Test
• Animated Triangles Test
• Diverse Desire and Beliefs Test (Yoni Test)
• False Beliefs Test (Sally Anne Test)
• Criticisms of the Theory of Mind tests
• Even more criticisms of the Theory of Mind Tests
• History and criticisms of the RMET

00:00 Introduction

00:09 The RMET and Autism Representation

02:53 Origins and Validity of the RMET

04:07 Theory of Mind and Autism

05:10 Administering Theory of Mind Tests

13:01 Cultural and Subjective Influences on Theory of Mind

14:41 Testing Theory of Mind with Animated Triangles

23:03 Diverse Desires and Hidden Feelings

28:59 False Beliefs and Hidden Feelings Tests

34:03 Critique of Autism Research

34:53 Validity of Autism Tests

37:22 Language Dexterity as a Theory of Mind predictor

39:16 Issues with Autism Testing

42:16 The RMET: Origins and Issues

48:50 Criticism of Simon Baron-Cohen's Work

01:04:19 Alternative Approaches to Autism Testing

01:06:50 Personal Experiences and Reflections

01:09:00 Discussing the Clinical Evaluation Process

01:09:11 Reflecting on the Exhausting Nature of Tests

01:09:27 Upcoming Episode on Eating Disorders and Neurodivergence

01:09:27 Personal Reflections on Test Performance

01:10:25 Questioning the Validity of the Test

01:10:40 Conclusion and Future Plans