Brief History of Autism By: Jason Bunn-Parsons 4
Description: Brief History of Autism By: Jason Bunn-Parsons 4 Prominent Autism Researchers: 1940s - 60s Dr. Leo Kanner (1894-1981) Austrian Born (his home town is now in Ukraine) Child Psychologist, who immigrated to the US (1924) Director of Child
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slide1. Brief History of Autism By: Jason Bunn-Parsons<br>
slide2. 4 Prominent Autism Researchers: 1940s - 60s<br>
slide3. Dr. Leo Kanner (1894-1981)
Austrian Born (his home town is now in Ukraine) Child Psychologist, who immigrated to the US (1924)
Director of Child Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins Hospital (1930-1959)
Published 1st English text book on child psychiatry, “Child Psychiatry” (1935) 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide4. Dr. Leo Kanner (1894-1981)
Published, “In Defense of Mothers. How to Bring Up Children In Spite of the More Zealous Psychologists” (1941)
Opposed euthanasia for the “feebleminded.” (1942) 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide5. Dr. Leo Kanner (1894-1981)
Published, “Autistic Disturbances of Affective Contact” (1943)
https://simonsfoundation.s3.amazonaws.com/share/071207-leo-kanner-autistic-affective-contact.pdf 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide6. This foundational work has since been cherry picked by those who focus solely on the struggles he reported, but neglect to take note of the fact that he also observed his patients tended to have superior abilities for memorization. 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide7. Dr. Hans Asperger (1906-1980)
Austrian Pediatrician in Nazi Germany
Credited for saving the lives of his 4 Autistic patients, whom he referred to as his “little professors,” from the Nazis.
Much of his research was lost due to the bombing of the hospital that he worked at during WWII. 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide8. Dr. Hans Asperger (1906-1980)
The stigma attached to any medical research done in Nazi Germany hinder the acceptance of his findings.
The term, Asperger’s Syndrome, was coined by Dr. Lorna Wing (“Asperger Syndrome: A Clinical Account” - 1981). 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide9. Did Dr. Kanner & Dr. Asperger Influence the Other?
Would the governments of Nazi Germany & the United States allow dialog between professionals while they were at war with each other in 1943-44?
How would the Nazi German government respond to one of its professionals “synchronizing” their theories with those of a Jew? 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide10. Did Dr. Kanner & Dr. Asperger Influence the Other?
Would a child psychologist in America go to Europe to attend a seminar hosted by a pediatrician, especially in 1936?
Would a Austrian, and/or German, speaking pediatrician in Austria/Germany subscribe to an English language child psychology periodical published in America? 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide11. Did Dr. Kanner & Dr. Asperger Influence the Other?
Would a pediatrician send his patients to a child psychologist to continue the therapies & treatments? 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide12. Bruno Bettelheim (1903-1990)
Professor of Psychology, University of Chicago (1944-73)
Director of the Orthogenic School (for “disturbed children”), associated with the University of Chicago. (1944-73) 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide13. Bruno Bettelheim (1903-1990)
Published, “The Empty Fortress: Infantile Autism and the Birth of the Self,” (1967)
It advocate the “Refrigerator Mothers” theory, which condemned an entire generation of mothers, claiming their “lack of maternal affection” caused their child’s Autism. 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide14. Bruno Bettelheim (1903-1990)
Richard Pollak (1934-):
“The Creation of Dr. B: A Biography of Bruno Bettelheim,” (1997), alleged that Bettelheim…
…lied about his academic credentials.
…was a pathological liar.
http://www.pbs.org/pov/refrigeratormothers/fridge 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide15. Bruno Bettelheim (1903-1990)
Richard Pollak(1934-:
“The Creation of Dr. B: A Biography of Bruno Bettelheim,” (1997), alleged that Bettelheim…
…abused of his patients at the Orthogenic School.
http://www.pbs.org/pov/refrigeratormothers/fridge 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide16. Bruno Bettelheim (1903-1990)
Richard Pollak (1934-):
Guide to the Richard Pollak Collection of Bruno Bettelheim Research Materials 1863-2006
https://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/scrc/findingaids/view.php?eadid=ICU.SPCL.POLLAKBETTELHEIM 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide17. Bruno Bettelheim (1903-1990)
Richard Pollak (1934-):
“…grew up under the shadow of autism and mother blame in his own family. His younger brother Stephen attended Bettelheim’s Orthogenic School in the late 1940s until he died in a freak accident.”
http://www.pbs.org/pov/refrigeratormothers/fridge 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide18. Bruno Bettelheim (1903-1990)
Richard Pollak (1934-):
When Steven died at the age of 11, and Richard was 14, he was on home vacation from the school.
http://www.pressherald.com/2014/03/16/book_q_a__writing_about_brother_s_death_helps_portland_author_and_others_/ 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide19. Dr. Bernard Rimland (1928-2006)
Psychologist and parent of a child with autism.
Published, “Infantile Autism: The Syndrome and It’s Implications for a Neural Theory of Behavior” (1964), refuting the hypothesis that his son’s Autism was caused by the assumed deficiencies in his wife’s social skills. 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide20. Dr. Bernard Rimland (1928-2006)
Founder, Autism Society of America (1965)
Founder, Autism Research Institute (1967) 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide21. The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide22. History of Autism Blame
http://www.pbs.org/pov/refrigeratormothers/fridge/
A 2002 biography that focuses on 6 individuals who are relevant to the subject, 3 of whom are fingered creating and/or propitiating this myth, while 2 others are mentioned as opponents.
I have already dealt with Bruno Bettelheim, so I will move on to the other 2 who are identified as proponents. The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide23. History of Autism Blame
Dr. Sigmund Freud:
Recognized as “the father of modern psychology.”
It is impossible to say if he would have actually been a proponent of the Refrigerator Mother theory because he died in 1939, 4 years before Dr. Kanner coined the term “Autism.” The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide24. History of Autism Blame
Dr. Sigmund Freud:
Had a reputation for blaming everything on parents.
Although it’s a well established fact that the environment that a child grows in will greatly impact emotional and psychological well-being, parents aren’t the only ones molding their children. The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide25. History of Autism Blame
Dr. Leo Kanner: The true originator of the refrigerator mother theory?
If this is true, why is Bettelheim condemned by the Autism community as the one who coined the term? The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide26. History of Autism Blame
Dr. Leo Kanner: The true originator of the refrigerator mother theory?
I have been told by the most prominent individuals in the Greater Phoenix, AZ, USA autism community that Rimland refuted Bettelheim with what he wrote in 1964, but how could he refute something that Bettelheim did not publish about until 3 years later? The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide27. History of Autism Blame
Possible Answers:
According to one source, Rimland reached out to Kanner, who later wrote the forward to Rimland’s book.
So it is possible that Rimland changed Kanner’s mind.
https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/early-infantile-autism-and-refrigerator-mother-theory-1943-1970 The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide28. History of Autism Blame
Possible Answers:
However, Bettelheim continued to push the theory, at least through out the 1970.
https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/early-infantile-autism-and-refrigerator-mother-theory-1943-1970 The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide29. History of Autism Blame
Possible Answers:
Bettelheim made multiple TV talk show appearances, the latest I can confirm was his 3rd appearance on the Dick Cavett Show (May 15, 1979)
http://dickcavettshow.com/index.php/component/zoo/tag/dick-cavett-show/Bruno%20Bettelheim?Itemid=101 The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide30. History of Autism Blame
Possible Answers:
Bettelheim also appeared in 4 of what might be considered documentaries: 1964, ‘74, ‘83 & ’88
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0079291/
In short, he may have had more media savvy then his opponents. The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide31. History of Autism Blame
Note: I have no way of knowing the actual topic(s) that were discussed during these programs.
Bettelheim was a child psychologist that appeared to address any and all issues that parents dealt with, not just autism. The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide32. History of Autism Blame
Furthermore, if true, Bettelheim’s journey from concentration camp survivor to renowned child psychologist would be a feel good story for the ages.
Therefore, it is impossible for me to attempt to determine how much of the spread of the Refrigerator Mothers theory was pre-Bettelheim, and how much was actually caused by Bettelheim. The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide33. What Dr. Kanner Actually Wrote about
the Parents of His Patients in 1943
Read the last 3 paragraphs of the document:
https://simonsfoundation.s3.amazonaws.com/share/071207-leo-kanner-autistic-affective-contact.pdf The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide34. What Dr. Kanner Actually Wrote about
the Parents of His Patients in 1943
My observations:
“It is not easy to evaluate…” suggest to me that he was not sure what conclusions to make about all the parents being “highly intelligent.”
I believe that this uncertainty may extend to most, if not all, of his other observations about the parents. The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide35. What Dr. Kanner Actually Wrote about
the Parents of His Patients in 1943
My observations:
Autism was not a product of parenting, it was biological.
The lack of “warmhearted” parenting that he observed was not…
…limited to the mothers, but also to the fathers and other extended relatives. The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide36. What Dr. Kanner Actually Wrote about
the Parents of His Patients in 1943
My observations:
Autism was not a product of parenting, it was biological.
The lack of “warmhearted” parenting that he observed was not…
…present in every household. The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide37. What Dr. Kanner Actually Wrote about
the Parents of His Patients in 1943
My observations:
Kanner provided a strong basis for Autism being hereditary by describing the same attributes to the parents that are considered hallmark characteristics of Autistics to this day. The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide38. Autism Today<br>
slide39. Rimland’s Overkill
“Autism is a biological disorder, not an emotional illness.
Refuse psychotherapy, psychoanalysis and intensive counseling. These approaches are useless.”
(Dr. Bernard Rimland - Health Counselor Magazine, Vol. 3 No. 6; June/July 1994)
http://www.bestbehaviour.ca/briefhistory.htm Autism Today<br>
slide40. Rimland’s Overkill
I fully get the anger he felt towards the proponents of the “Refrigerator Mother.”
I have dealt with anger that placed blinders on my mind. Autism Today<br>
slide41. Nevertheless, even though Autism is not caused by psychological issues, it does not make us immune to them. Autism Today<br>
slide42. Furthermore, because Autistics are more likely to be the victims of abuse and/or exploitation, we are more likely to have the psychological issues that such acts cause any human being. Autism Today<br>
slide43. these psychological issues are like a ball and chains that will undermine any attempt that the inflicted human being to develop and maintain relationships. Autism Today<br>
slide44. You can bankrupt yourself paying to have someone teach the Autistic relationship formulas, but they will all fail if they are being undermined by unresolved fear, pain and resentment. Autism Today<br>
slide2. 4 Prominent Autism Researchers: 1940s - 60s<br>
slide3. Dr. Leo Kanner (1894-1981)
Austrian Born (his home town is now in Ukraine) Child Psychologist, who immigrated to the US (1924)
Director of Child Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins Hospital (1930-1959)
Published 1st English text book on child psychiatry, “Child Psychiatry” (1935) 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide4. Dr. Leo Kanner (1894-1981)
Published, “In Defense of Mothers. How to Bring Up Children In Spite of the More Zealous Psychologists” (1941)
Opposed euthanasia for the “feebleminded.” (1942) 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide5. Dr. Leo Kanner (1894-1981)
Published, “Autistic Disturbances of Affective Contact” (1943)
https://simonsfoundation.s3.amazonaws.com/share/071207-leo-kanner-autistic-affective-contact.pdf 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide6. This foundational work has since been cherry picked by those who focus solely on the struggles he reported, but neglect to take note of the fact that he also observed his patients tended to have superior abilities for memorization. 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide7. Dr. Hans Asperger (1906-1980)
Austrian Pediatrician in Nazi Germany
Credited for saving the lives of his 4 Autistic patients, whom he referred to as his “little professors,” from the Nazis.
Much of his research was lost due to the bombing of the hospital that he worked at during WWII. 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide8. Dr. Hans Asperger (1906-1980)
The stigma attached to any medical research done in Nazi Germany hinder the acceptance of his findings.
The term, Asperger’s Syndrome, was coined by Dr. Lorna Wing (“Asperger Syndrome: A Clinical Account” - 1981). 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide9. Did Dr. Kanner & Dr. Asperger Influence the Other?
Would the governments of Nazi Germany & the United States allow dialog between professionals while they were at war with each other in 1943-44?
How would the Nazi German government respond to one of its professionals “synchronizing” their theories with those of a Jew? 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide10. Did Dr. Kanner & Dr. Asperger Influence the Other?
Would a child psychologist in America go to Europe to attend a seminar hosted by a pediatrician, especially in 1936?
Would a Austrian, and/or German, speaking pediatrician in Austria/Germany subscribe to an English language child psychology periodical published in America? 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide11. Did Dr. Kanner & Dr. Asperger Influence the Other?
Would a pediatrician send his patients to a child psychologist to continue the therapies & treatments? 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide12. Bruno Bettelheim (1903-1990)
Professor of Psychology, University of Chicago (1944-73)
Director of the Orthogenic School (for “disturbed children”), associated with the University of Chicago. (1944-73) 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide13. Bruno Bettelheim (1903-1990)
Published, “The Empty Fortress: Infantile Autism and the Birth of the Self,” (1967)
It advocate the “Refrigerator Mothers” theory, which condemned an entire generation of mothers, claiming their “lack of maternal affection” caused their child’s Autism. 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide14. Bruno Bettelheim (1903-1990)
Richard Pollak (1934-):
“The Creation of Dr. B: A Biography of Bruno Bettelheim,” (1997), alleged that Bettelheim…
…lied about his academic credentials.
…was a pathological liar.
http://www.pbs.org/pov/refrigeratormothers/fridge 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide15. Bruno Bettelheim (1903-1990)
Richard Pollak(1934-:
“The Creation of Dr. B: A Biography of Bruno Bettelheim,” (1997), alleged that Bettelheim…
…abused of his patients at the Orthogenic School.
http://www.pbs.org/pov/refrigeratormothers/fridge 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide16. Bruno Bettelheim (1903-1990)
Richard Pollak (1934-):
Guide to the Richard Pollak Collection of Bruno Bettelheim Research Materials 1863-2006
https://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/scrc/findingaids/view.php?eadid=ICU.SPCL.POLLAKBETTELHEIM 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide17. Bruno Bettelheim (1903-1990)
Richard Pollak (1934-):
“…grew up under the shadow of autism and mother blame in his own family. His younger brother Stephen attended Bettelheim’s Orthogenic School in the late 1940s until he died in a freak accident.”
http://www.pbs.org/pov/refrigeratormothers/fridge 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide18. Bruno Bettelheim (1903-1990)
Richard Pollak (1934-):
When Steven died at the age of 11, and Richard was 14, he was on home vacation from the school.
http://www.pressherald.com/2014/03/16/book_q_a__writing_about_brother_s_death_helps_portland_author_and_others_/ 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide19. Dr. Bernard Rimland (1928-2006)
Psychologist and parent of a child with autism.
Published, “Infantile Autism: The Syndrome and It’s Implications for a Neural Theory of Behavior” (1964), refuting the hypothesis that his son’s Autism was caused by the assumed deficiencies in his wife’s social skills. 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide20. Dr. Bernard Rimland (1928-2006)
Founder, Autism Society of America (1965)
Founder, Autism Research Institute (1967) 4 Prominent Autism Researchers<br>
slide21. The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide22. History of Autism Blame
http://www.pbs.org/pov/refrigeratormothers/fridge/
A 2002 biography that focuses on 6 individuals who are relevant to the subject, 3 of whom are fingered creating and/or propitiating this myth, while 2 others are mentioned as opponents.
I have already dealt with Bruno Bettelheim, so I will move on to the other 2 who are identified as proponents. The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide23. History of Autism Blame
Dr. Sigmund Freud:
Recognized as “the father of modern psychology.”
It is impossible to say if he would have actually been a proponent of the Refrigerator Mother theory because he died in 1939, 4 years before Dr. Kanner coined the term “Autism.” The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide24. History of Autism Blame
Dr. Sigmund Freud:
Had a reputation for blaming everything on parents.
Although it’s a well established fact that the environment that a child grows in will greatly impact emotional and psychological well-being, parents aren’t the only ones molding their children. The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide25. History of Autism Blame
Dr. Leo Kanner: The true originator of the refrigerator mother theory?
If this is true, why is Bettelheim condemned by the Autism community as the one who coined the term? The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide26. History of Autism Blame
Dr. Leo Kanner: The true originator of the refrigerator mother theory?
I have been told by the most prominent individuals in the Greater Phoenix, AZ, USA autism community that Rimland refuted Bettelheim with what he wrote in 1964, but how could he refute something that Bettelheim did not publish about until 3 years later? The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide27. History of Autism Blame
Possible Answers:
According to one source, Rimland reached out to Kanner, who later wrote the forward to Rimland’s book.
So it is possible that Rimland changed Kanner’s mind.
https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/early-infantile-autism-and-refrigerator-mother-theory-1943-1970 The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide28. History of Autism Blame
Possible Answers:
However, Bettelheim continued to push the theory, at least through out the 1970.
https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/early-infantile-autism-and-refrigerator-mother-theory-1943-1970 The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide29. History of Autism Blame
Possible Answers:
Bettelheim made multiple TV talk show appearances, the latest I can confirm was his 3rd appearance on the Dick Cavett Show (May 15, 1979)
http://dickcavettshow.com/index.php/component/zoo/tag/dick-cavett-show/Bruno%20Bettelheim?Itemid=101 The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide30. History of Autism Blame
Possible Answers:
Bettelheim also appeared in 4 of what might be considered documentaries: 1964, ‘74, ‘83 & ’88
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0079291/
In short, he may have had more media savvy then his opponents. The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide31. History of Autism Blame
Note: I have no way of knowing the actual topic(s) that were discussed during these programs.
Bettelheim was a child psychologist that appeared to address any and all issues that parents dealt with, not just autism. The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide32. History of Autism Blame
Furthermore, if true, Bettelheim’s journey from concentration camp survivor to renowned child psychologist would be a feel good story for the ages.
Therefore, it is impossible for me to attempt to determine how much of the spread of the Refrigerator Mothers theory was pre-Bettelheim, and how much was actually caused by Bettelheim. The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide33. What Dr. Kanner Actually Wrote about
the Parents of His Patients in 1943
Read the last 3 paragraphs of the document:
https://simonsfoundation.s3.amazonaws.com/share/071207-leo-kanner-autistic-affective-contact.pdf The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide34. What Dr. Kanner Actually Wrote about
the Parents of His Patients in 1943
My observations:
“It is not easy to evaluate…” suggest to me that he was not sure what conclusions to make about all the parents being “highly intelligent.”
I believe that this uncertainty may extend to most, if not all, of his other observations about the parents. The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide35. What Dr. Kanner Actually Wrote about
the Parents of His Patients in 1943
My observations:
Autism was not a product of parenting, it was biological.
The lack of “warmhearted” parenting that he observed was not…
…limited to the mothers, but also to the fathers and other extended relatives. The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide36. What Dr. Kanner Actually Wrote about
the Parents of His Patients in 1943
My observations:
Autism was not a product of parenting, it was biological.
The lack of “warmhearted” parenting that he observed was not…
…present in every household. The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide37. What Dr. Kanner Actually Wrote about
the Parents of His Patients in 1943
My observations:
Kanner provided a strong basis for Autism being hereditary by describing the same attributes to the parents that are considered hallmark characteristics of Autistics to this day. The “Refrigerator Mothers” Theory<br>
slide38. Autism Today<br>
slide39. Rimland’s Overkill
“Autism is a biological disorder, not an emotional illness.
Refuse psychotherapy, psychoanalysis and intensive counseling. These approaches are useless.”
(Dr. Bernard Rimland - Health Counselor Magazine, Vol. 3 No. 6; June/July 1994)
http://www.bestbehaviour.ca/briefhistory.htm Autism Today<br>
slide40. Rimland’s Overkill
I fully get the anger he felt towards the proponents of the “Refrigerator Mother.”
I have dealt with anger that placed blinders on my mind. Autism Today<br>
slide41. Nevertheless, even though Autism is not caused by psychological issues, it does not make us immune to them. Autism Today<br>
slide42. Furthermore, because Autistics are more likely to be the victims of abuse and/or exploitation, we are more likely to have the psychological issues that such acts cause any human being. Autism Today<br>
slide43. these psychological issues are like a ball and chains that will undermine any attempt that the inflicted human being to develop and maintain relationships. Autism Today<br>
slide44. You can bankrupt yourself paying to have someone teach the Autistic relationship formulas, but they will all fail if they are being undermined by unresolved fear, pain and resentment. Autism Today<br>