Theories of Autism: A Review of Four Contemporary Theories

Authors

  • Keira Chivawne Ogle University of Victoria

Keywords:

autism, theories of, theory of mind, central coherence, executive functioning, systemizing

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behaviour. While, there is some debate among researchers regarding the underlying deficit causing ASD, determining such a deficit is critical to guiding early identification and fostering effective instruction for individuals with ASD. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate four contemporary theories of ASD - theory of mind, central coherence, executive functioning, and hyper-systemizing - in terms of their explanatory power, specificity, and universality. The evaluation reveals that the concomitant deficits in/of theory of mind, central coherence, or executive functioning do not meet the criteria of primary deficit in individuals with ASD. While more research is necessary, the superior explanatory power of Baron-Cohen’s (2006) proposed hyper-systemizing theory of autism, suggests that this is a promising new account of the core deficit in ASD. In order to encourage the integration of theory, research, and practice, this paper discusses the implications of hyper-systemizing theory to future research and to the development of educational interventions.

Author Biography

Keira Chivawne Ogle, University of Victoria

Keira Ogle is a third year MA student, studying Special Education in the department of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies at the University of Victoria. In her research and practice she has two priorities: (1) to determine the most effective way to improve literacy in different populations of children with exceptionalities and (2) to disseminate that information to the people who need it.

Downloads

Published

2009-09-03

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2009)

Section

Literature Review/Revue de la documentation

License

  • Manuscripts submitted to CJNSE/RCJCÉ must be original work that has not been published elsewhere, nor is currently being considered for publication elsewhere. The author should confirm this in the cover letter sent with the manuscript.
  • Articles that are published within the CJNSE/RCJCÉ must not be published elsewhere, in whole or part, for one year after publication.
  • Copyright for articles published in this journal is retained by the authors, with first publication rights granted to the journal. By virtue of their appearance in this open access journal, articles are free to use, with proper attribution, in educational and other non-commercial settings. Granting the CJNSE/RCJCÉ first publication rights must be in the cover letter sent with the manuscript.
  • If the manuscript contains copyrighted materials, the author should note this in the cover letter sent with the manuscript, and indicate when letters of permission will be forwarded to the Editor.
  • If the manuscript reports on research with “human subjects,” the author should include a statement in the cover letter that ethics approval has been received for the research, indicating the granting body and protocol number if applicable.
  • Authors are encouraged to use language that is inclusive and culturally sensitive.