Sue Fletcher-Watson - Autism / A New Introduction to Psychological Theory and Current Debate

If you read one book on autism, this should be the one! There is no other account of psychological theories that is as clear, as engaging and as succinct. The authors not only explain what research has revealed about the nature of this complex condition, they critically analyse the impact of the research on the life of people with autism and their families. They break new ground by exploring the consequences of the still new concept of neurodiversity for a future research agenda and, true to their principles, constructively incorporate comments by autistic people from all walks of life.

Professor Dame Uta Frith, Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Development, University College London, UK

This book gives an accessible overview of psychological theory in regard to autism, including recent developments and controversies. The highlight however is the commentary remarks at the end of each chapter by autistic people. A must read for all those studying autism and those working with autistic people.

Dr. Damian Milton, Lecturer in Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Tizard Centre, University of Kent, UK

For more than two decades, Francesca Happ has led the way in explaining the psychology of autistic people to students and experts alike. Now joining forces with Sue Fletcher-Watson, this new introduction brings the voices of autistic people themselves, their families and communities to the forefront of their analysis. The result is a magnificent book that will cause us all to think anew about autistic psychology and experience.

Professor Liz Pellicano, Macquarie University, Australia

This book is a must-read for everyone interested in understanding the current landscape of autism. It includes everything you will want to know from history to biology; from theory to practice; presented in a balanced and lucid style that will engage all readers. The book is remarkable achievement that will, like the first edition, become an instant classic.

Professor Helen Tager-Flusberg, PhD, Boston University, USA

For many people, myself included, Francesca Happs 1995 book was their gateway to autism research. This update, written with Sue Fletcher-Watson is much-needed and long overdue. Like the first edition, it provides a wonderfully lucid yet concise introduction to psychological accounts of autism. But it also serves as an historical document, reflecting the seismic changes in our understanding of and attitudes towards autism over the past quarter century and the growing voice of autistic people in challenging preconceptions about their own condition and influencing the priorities and goals of autism science.

Dr. Jon Brock, Macquarie University, Australia

Based on Francesca Happs best-selling textbook, Autism: An Introduction to Psychological Theory, this completely new edition provides a concise overview of contemporary psychological theories about autism. Fletcher-Watson and Happ explore the relationship between theories of autism at psychological (cognitive), biological and behavioural levels, and consider their clinical and educational impact.

The authors summarise what is known about the biology and behavioural features of autism, and provide concise but comprehensive accounts of all influential psychological models including Theory of Mind (ToM) models, early social development models and alternative information processing models such as weak central coherence theory. The book also discusses more recent attempts to understand autism, including the Double Empathy Problem and Bayesian theories. In each case, the authors describe the theory, review the evidence and provide critical analysis of its value and impact. Recognising the multiplicity of theoretical views, and rapidly changing nature of autism research, each chapter considers current debates and major questions that remain for the future.

Importantly, the book includes the voices of autistic people, including parents and practitioners, who were asked to provide commentaries on each chapter, helping to contextualise theory and research evidence with accounts of real-life experience. The book embraces neurodiversity whilst recognising the real needs of autistic people and their families. Thus Autism: A New Introduction to Psychological Theory and Current Debate provides the reader with a critical overview of psychological theory but also embeds this within community perspectives, making it a relevant and progressive contribution to understanding autism, and essential reading for students and practitioners across educational, clinical and social settings.

Sue Fletcher-Watson is Senior Research Fellow at the Patrick Wild Centre, University of Edinburgh, and leads the Development/Autism/Research/Technology, or DART, lab group. She has been awarded the British Psychological Society Margaret Donaldson Prize and a certificate of excellence from Autism Rights Group Highland for amplification and inclusion of autistic voices.

Francesca Happ (FBA FMedSci) is Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience and Director of the Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London. She has worked in autism research for over 30 years, was President of the International Society for Autism Research and has been awarded the British Psychological Society Spearman Medal, the Experimental Psychology Society Prize and the Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award.

Published 2019

by Routledge

2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN

and by Routledge

52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2019 Sue Fletcher-Watson and Francesca Happ

The right of Sue Fletcher-Watson and Francesca Happ to be identified as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Fletcher-Watson, Sue, author. | Happ, Francesca, author.

Title: Autism : a new introduction to psychological theory and current debates / Sue Fletcher-Watson & Francesca Happ.

Description: 2nd edition. | Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2019. | Revison of: Autism / Francesca Happ. 1995. | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018053243 (print) | LCCN 2018054196 (ebook) | ISBN 9781315101699 (Ebook) | ISBN 9781138106116 (hardback) | ISBN 9781138106123 (pbk) | ISBN 9781315101699 (ebk) Subjects: LCSH: Autism.

Classification: LCC RC553.A88 (ebook) | LCC RC553.A88 H36 2019 (print) | DDC 616.85/882dc23