Autism:
- Historical and Contemporary Overview:
Historically autism, as it is known today, was not used as an official diagnosis until the 20th century. (Greydanus &Toledo-Pereyra. 2012) However, autism existed before it was given a name. The first edition of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) put autism as a subcategory of schizophrenia. (American Psychiatric Association. 1952) The very first time the term 'autism' was used was by a psychiatrist named Paul Eugen Bleuler. When Bleuler used the term autism, he was using it to describe schizophrenic patients when they would become distant and withdrawn from those around them. (Greydanus &Toledo-Pereyra. 2012) Originally it was thought that 'autism' was just a way to describe certain symptoms of schizophrenia. In the DSM-5, autism spectrum disorder is split into two separate and unique categories. These include impaired social communication and/ or interaction and restriction and/ or repetitive behavior. (American Psychiatric Association. 2013)
- Stereotypes and Stereotypical Thinking:
Hans Asperger was a psychiatric who studied autism. He had come up with several case histories, in the 1940's, that showed autism in a new light. However, when these case studies were published, the only individuals involved in the case histories were males. In Asperger's view, autism was a male-only disorder. Obviously that is not true and women can also be diagnosed as autistic. Asperger believed this because males fit the ideal image of a stereotypical 'autistic' person. (Draaisma. 2009) Another stereotype of autism would be the phrase, "in a sense we are all autistic." In saying this it makes it seem as if autism is not actually a disorder. (Draaisma, 2009)
Culture has such a huge effect on how an individual see themselves and how they see others. In different cultures diagnosis of illness and mental illness can be seen in a multitude of ways. A study was done that involved the Korean American community, and autism. In this study early childhood care workers and church leaders were asked several open ended questions in an interview. All of the individuals who participated in the study had diagnosis of autism was uncomfortable, and almost a feeling of 'pity.' Participants had said that they were reluctant to speak to parents who had "disability" because they did not want to seem insensitive or that they pity the child. They also stated that they respond to this by avoiding the child and/ or parents and even treating them differently. They had figured from the results of the study that there needs to be an openness surrounding not only autism, but mental illness as a whole. One of the church leaders had said, "Asians feel ashamed of and sensitive to their families dishonoring issues."(Kang, Grinker, Beidas, Agha, Russell, Shah, & Mandell. 2018) In doing this study, it brought to light the idea that some cultures may not fully be accepting of mental illness diagnosis.
References:
-American Psychiatric Association, (1952). Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel: Mental Disorders (1st ed.). Washington, D.C
-American Psychiatric Association, (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel: Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Washington, D.C
-Greydanus,D. and Toledo-Pererya, L. (2012). Historical perspectives on autism: its past record of discovery and its present state of solipsism, skepticism, and sorrowful suspicion: Patel and Greydanus (Eds), Autism spectrum disorders: Pediatric Clinics of North America. Michigan: Elsevier Health Services
-Draaisma, D. (2009). Stereotypes of autism. Philos trans R Soc Land B Biol.
-Kang-Yi CD, Grinker RR, Beidas R, Agha A, Russell R, Shah SB, Shea K, Mandell DS. Influence of Community-Level Cultural Beliefs about Autism on Families' and Professionals' Care for Children. Transcult Psychiatry.
Photo:
Hopkinson, T. (2023, May 19). What is autism? - autism Q & A, blog, Caregivers. AutismBC. https://www.autismbc.ca/blog/what-is-autism/
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