social reward system | The Neurodivergent Brain

How Autistic Individuals Are Evolutionarily Wired to Challenge Social Norms and Ensure Survival

In a world that rewards conformity and social harmony, autistic individuals stand out as natural nonconformists who offer a different and vital perspective. This difference isn’t just a social quirk—it’s rooted in how the autistic brain is wired. Unlike neurotypicals, who are driven by social rewards and often motivated to avoid conflict, autistic individuals often lack the same social reward system, giving them a unique ability to challenge societal norms, question hierarchies, and push back against potentially dangerous group decisions.

By exploring the neurological differences in autism and comparing them to trauma-based impairments, we begin to understand how autistic brains are wired for vigilance and innovation. Autistic people provide essential insights, resist harmful conformity, and advocate for justice in a way that is both evolutionarily advantageous and necessary in modern society.

The Difference Between Autistic and Neurotypical Social Motivation

The primary neurological difference between autistic individuals and neurotypicals lies in how each group processes social reward. Neurotypicals tend to be highly motivated by social cues—seeking approval, avoiding rejection, and adhering to group norms to maintain social standing. This is driven by brain areas such as the ventral striatum, which is associated with the pleasure of social interactions, and the amygdala, which processes emotional responses(The Journal of Neuroscience)(Neuroscience News).

However, in autistic individuals, these brain areas function differently. Autistic brains are less responsive to social rewards like praise or acceptance. Instead, they are often motivated by internal interests, logic, and a sense of fairness. This fundamental difference means that autistic individuals are more likely to challenge the social status quo because they aren’t driven by the same need for social validation(Neuroscience News).

This lack of reliance on social reward frees autistic individuals from the pressures of conformity, allowing them to:

Speak up when something seems wrong.
Resist going along with harmful or unethical norms.
Focus on facts and fairness rather than social games.

Evolutionary Advantages: The Role of Nonconformity in Survival

In early human societies, where survival depended on making decisions in uncertain environments, it was vital to have individuals who could think independently. If everyone in the group simply went along with the leader’s decisions—whether those decisions were logical or not—the group could be at risk of failing to adapt to new challenges. Autistic individuals, who are less susceptible to social pressures, likely played a crucial role in ensuring the survival of early human groups by challenging unsafe practices and offering alternative perspectives(Neuroscience News)(NeuroLaunch.com).

Challenging Dangerous Norms: Conformity in groups can sometimes lead to groupthink, where people follow a decision even if it is flawed, simply to avoid conflict. Autistic individuals, because they are less influenced by social dynamics, are often the ones to point out flaws or challenge the norm, even when it’s uncomfortable. This was likely essential in preventing harmful decisions from going unchallenged in early human groups, helping to ensure the safety of the collective.
Spotting Systemic Flaws: Autistic people are known for their attention to detail and their ability to recognize patterns that others might miss. In early societies, this might have translated into an ability to spot changes in the environment—whether it was shifts in animal migration patterns, subtle changes in weather, or the early warning signs of danger. Today, this trait helps autistic individuals detect systemic flaws in organizations, processes, or social systems(The Journal of Neuroscience)(Neuroscience News).
Innovation and Problem Solving: Autistic individuals often resist following traditional paths or solutions that don’t make logical sense. Their tendency to think outside the box and question existing practices may have driven innovation in early human societies, where novel solutions to problems were crucial for survival. Whether it was finding new ways to hunt, gather resources, or build tools, autistic individuals’ unique wiring for independent thought allowed them to see solutions where others might not(The Journal of Neuroscience)(NeuroLaunch.com).

Resistance to Social Hierarchy: Speaking Truth to Power

Social hierarchies, while useful in some contexts, can also create environments where questioning authority is discouraged. Neurotypicals, motivated by social reward, might avoid challenging those in power out of fear of losing status or being ostracized. Autistic individuals, however, often feel less tied to these social hierarchies, which allows them to speak truth to power without the fear of social rejection(Neuroscience News)(NeuroLaunch.com).

Less Concern with Social Judgment: Because autistic people don’t rely on social validation for self-worth, they are often more willing to challenge authority figures or dominant societal norms when they feel something is wrong. This makes them powerful advocates for truth and justice, particularly in situations where others might be too concerned with their own social standing to speak up(Neuroscience News).
Pushing Back Against Unsafe Systems: Autistic individuals are often the ones to raise concerns when systems, processes, or practices are unjust or unsafe. This resistance to social hierarchy helps ensure that harmful norms are questioned and, if necessary, changed to protect others. In modern society, this trait makes autistic voices essential in advocacy, reform, and innovation(NeuroLaunch.com).

The Mirror of Trauma: Similarities and Differences

Interestingly, many of the traits we see in autistic individuals—hypervigilance, resistance to conformity, difficulty with social reward systems—are also present in individuals affected by trauma. Both groups share heightened awareness of potential threats and a strong sense of self-preservation. However, while trauma brains develop these traits as a result of negative experiences, autistic brains are wired this way from birth(Neuroscience News)(NeuroLaunch.com).

This suggests that autistic individuals are naturally wired to operate in a heightened state of awareness and independent thought, offering insights and protection to the groups they are part of. While trauma survivors might develop these traits as a coping mechanism, autistic individuals offer these traits as part of their neurological makeup, playing a vital role in balancing the social dynamics of a group.

Conclusion: The Evolutionary Role of Autistic Individuals

Autistic individuals bring a unique and essential perspective to both historical and modern societies. Their lack of dependence on social rewards, coupled with their ability to challenge norms and think independently, has allowed them to serve as crucial members of any group—whether it’s questioning harmful practices, spotting unseen dangers, or pushing for innovations that others might be too risk-averse to consider.

In modern society, these traits make autistic individuals indispensable in areas such as advocacy, leadership, and social reform, where independent thinking and resistance to conformity are vital for progress. Understanding and embracing these differences helps not only in supporting autistic individuals but in recognizing the essential role they play in ensuring the safety, innovation, and ethical integrity of society as a whole.

References

Belmonte, M. K., & Baron-Cohen, S. (2004). Autism: Reduced connectivity between cortical areas?. Brain, 127(1), 1811-1813. Retrieved from: Journal of Neuroscience(The Journal of Neuroscience)
Tang, G., Gudsnuk, K., Kuo, S. H., Cotrina, M. L., Rosoklija, G., Sosunov, A., … & Sulzer, D. (2014). Loss of mTOR-dependent macroautophagy causes autistic-like synaptic pruning deficits. Neuron, 83(5), 1131-1143. Retrieved from: Columbia University Irving Medical Center(Columbia Irving Med Ctr)
Neurons With Too Many Synapses: A Hallmark of Specific Forms of Autism. (2021). Neuroscience News. Retrieved from: Neuroscience News(Neuroscience News)
Autism and Fear Response: Understanding Connections. (2023). Neurolaunch. Retrieved from: Neurolaunch(NeuroLaunch.com)

Exploring the Social Reward System: Mechanisms, Development, and Gender Differences

The social reward system is a complex network within the brain that underpins our motivation to engage in social interactions, influences our perception of social rewards, and shapes our behaviour in social contexts. This system involves several key brain regions, neurotransmitters, and developmental trajectories, all of which are influenced by a variety of factors, including biological differences, environmental influences, and individual experiences. Understanding how the social reward system works, its development, the factors influencing it, and differences observed between males and females requires a dive into several interconnected domains.

How the Social Reward System Works

The social reward system primarily involves the interaction of various brain regions, including the ventral tegmental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens, amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, and prefrontal cortex. These areas are crucial for processing rewards, emotional responses, decision-making, and social information.

Neurotransmitters: Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter in the social reward system, acting as a signal for reward anticipation and pleasure. Serotonin also plays a role in influencing mood and social behaviour. The release of these neurotransmitters in response to social stimuli (like positive social interactions) reinforces social behavior by creating a sense of pleasure or satisfaction.

Reward Processing: The nucleus accumbens plays a central role in reward processing, including social rewards such as receiving approval, love, or recognition from others. This region helps assess the value of social stimuli, guiding behaviour towards socially rewarding experiences.

Development Through the Ages

The social reward system develops and changes throughout an individual’s life, from infancy through adulthood.

Early Development: Social rewards are crucial for bonding with caregivers and learning social norms in infancy and childhood. Positive interactions with caregivers, such as smiling and verbal praise, activate the social reward system, reinforcing these interactions.

Adolescence: Adolescence is a period of increased sensitivity to social rewards, partly due to developmental changes in the brain’s dopaminergic system. This period is marked by a heightened focus on peer relationships, social status, and acceptance, reflecting the shifting priorities of the social reward system.

Adulthood: In adulthood, the social reward system continues to influence social behaviors. However, adults may have more refined mechanisms for evaluating social rewards and are often better at regulating emotional responses to social feedback.

Influencing Factors

Several factors influence the functioning and development of the social reward system:

Genetics: Genetic predispositions can affect the sensitivity of the reward system and predispose individuals to specific social behaviours or disorders.

Environment: The social reward system shapes social experiences, culture, and learning. Positive social environments can enhance its function, while adverse experiences (like social isolation) can impair it.

Mental Health: Conditions like depression, anxiety, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can alter how the social reward system functions, affecting social motivation and the perception of social rewards.

Differences Between Males and Females

Research suggests there are gender differences in the social reward system, influenced by both biological factors (like hormones) and socialization processes:

Biological Differences: Hormones such as testosterone and estrogen can influence the development and functioning of the social reward system. For example, testosterone has been linked to dominance-seeking behaviour, which can affect social reward processing.

Socialization: Cultural and societal expectations can shape the types of social interactions that are rewarding for males and females. For instance, females are often socialized to value emotional sharing and connectivity, which may influence how social rewards are perceived and sought after.

Brain Structure and Function: Studies have shown differences in brain structure and function related to social cognition and reward processing between males and females. However, the findings are complex and often influenced by environmental factors.

Conclusion

The social reward system is a sophisticated network that evolves throughout an individual’s life, shaped by genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors. Its development is crucial for fostering social connections, understanding social norms, and navigating the social world. Recognizing the nuances in how the social reward system functions across different ages and genders can help understand a broad spectrum of social behaviours and develop interventions for social disorders.