10 January 2010
ASD primarily as an affective disorder
13/01/10 09:38 Filed in: Autism Spectrum Disorders
The parents of a child on the autism spectrum frequently wonder -- what can I do to help my child grow and develop. They turn to professionals, other parents, and frequently web sites for advice. And what a plethora of advice there is out there. “This diet will cure your child.” “Don’t vaccinate.” “The only program that works is ABA”. or “ABA turns your child into a robot.” So many different therapies, so much different advice. What is a parent to do? Who do they listen to?
Most of the research favors Applied Behavior Analysis although there is a tantalizing bit of research that is now merging behavioral and developmental approaches (e.g., The Denver Model). What I will do in this and subsequent blogs is just share my latest thinking on an idea -- the idea that ASD is primarily an affective disturbance and the cognitive dysfunctions are secondary to this.
I believe that the starting place is in developing self and other awareness. First develop an emotional (affective) connection and then start the cognitive skill development part.
My thoughts are based on research that I will later share in more detail -- primarily the works of Peter Hobson and Michael Tomesello but also numerous others.
My thoughts are also based on two programs with weak research bases -- Relationship Development Intervention and the Son Rise program -- both have some very good ideas and both have limitations.
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ASD is primarily a social impairment.
People with ASD do not engage in emotionally charged interactions with other people.
They lack the capacity to see other people as people like themselves.
Just because they lack this capacity does not mean it cannot be taught.
Most of the research favors Applied Behavior Analysis although there is a tantalizing bit of research that is now merging behavioral and developmental approaches (e.g., The Denver Model). What I will do in this and subsequent blogs is just share my latest thinking on an idea -- the idea that ASD is primarily an affective disturbance and the cognitive dysfunctions are secondary to this.
I believe that the starting place is in developing self and other awareness. First develop an emotional (affective) connection and then start the cognitive skill development part.
My thoughts are based on research that I will later share in more detail -- primarily the works of Peter Hobson and Michael Tomesello but also numerous others.
My thoughts are also based on two programs with weak research bases -- Relationship Development Intervention and the Son Rise program -- both have some very good ideas and both have limitations.
---------------
ASD is primarily a social impairment.
People with ASD do not engage in emotionally charged interactions with other people.
They lack the capacity to see other people as people like themselves.
Just because they lack this capacity does not mean it cannot be taught.
Marlon Brandon
12/01/10 08:52 Filed in: Teleological Psychology
Marlon Brando is dead and gone – famous and fortunate in public, sad and forlorn in private. After learning that his son had murdered his daughter’s boyfriend he said, “The messenger of misery visited my home today.” From what we read in the press, the very reclusive Marlon Brando was an unhappy man – depressed, angry and lonely. He lived life in a self-destructive fashion – self absorbed and self-centered.
The “messenger of misery” is one of the many problems of life that we all face. How well we deal with this messenger and the other obstacles that come along in our lives is an indicator of our inner strength, our mental health. We can learn a lesson about life from Marlon Brando and from all the others who follow the path of selfishness and self-destruction. In many ways they are no different than the rest of us. All of us -- the self-actualized, the self-destructive, and the wayward vacillating pilgrims -- are searching for a sense of completion, perfection, and fulfillment. This journey is one of learning to avoid the side roads, the pitfalls and the hidden traps that will confront us; of having the courage to face the unavoidable difficulties of life; and of developing the vision to see and to change our current distorted and damaging ways of striving for success and security.
But how can we truly know ourselves? What are the side paths in life that lead to a sense of incompleteness and result in the negative emotions of excessive sadness, anger, guilt, jealousy, or worry? How can we avoid them? How can we meet the many tasks of life with courage, wisdom and generosity? Hopefully, the journey you are now on is one that leads to self-discovery, positive change, and a clearer vision of the meaning of both the joy and suffering in your life.
The “messenger of misery” is one of the many problems of life that we all face. How well we deal with this messenger and the other obstacles that come along in our lives is an indicator of our inner strength, our mental health. We can learn a lesson about life from Marlon Brando and from all the others who follow the path of selfishness and self-destruction. In many ways they are no different than the rest of us. All of us -- the self-actualized, the self-destructive, and the wayward vacillating pilgrims -- are searching for a sense of completion, perfection, and fulfillment. This journey is one of learning to avoid the side roads, the pitfalls and the hidden traps that will confront us; of having the courage to face the unavoidable difficulties of life; and of developing the vision to see and to change our current distorted and damaging ways of striving for success and security.
But how can we truly know ourselves? What are the side paths in life that lead to a sense of incompleteness and result in the negative emotions of excessive sadness, anger, guilt, jealousy, or worry? How can we avoid them? How can we meet the many tasks of life with courage, wisdom and generosity? Hopefully, the journey you are now on is one that leads to self-discovery, positive change, and a clearer vision of the meaning of both the joy and suffering in your life.