ction. (Edelson, 1995). MythsPerhaps the most significant myth, and one that still may be believed in the general public, is the image of autism as a condition caused through psychological trauma of childhood and through bad or poor parenting. When psychodynamic theories were in vogue autism lent itself perfectly as a psychiatric condition resulting from deprivation of affective contact with significant others. There is a reasonable amount of logic in this. In autism the most noticeable and confusing characteristic is the absence of apparent need for social contact and interaction, the lack of affective contact with loved ones, the aloofness that people with autism seem to have in relation to the world around them. Psychodynamic theories also suggested one positive: that through appropriate counseling, intervention and psychoanalysis autism could be cured. This lead to the image of refrigerator parents: career minded, cold, intellectual parents who starved their child of the emotional and affective contact they deserved. (Stehli, 1991). Other misconceptions of autism are less dangerous but are currently relevant and may have an impact on individuals with autism. Among these are the opposite of the refrigerator parent idea. The concept that people with autism are totally devoid of social interaction, affective contact, and attachment and bonding is also inaccurate. Although people with autism are very much impaired in this area they do not wholly lack affective contact, but they do understand and react to these things in a very different way. Seeing people with autism as having no feelings, emotions, as mechanistic, calculating people is just as unfair and inaccurate as blaming parents for their autism. Such a perspective undermines the experience of all people with autism and their loved ones, who may enjoy unique and rewarding (although difficult and often traumatic) relationships. People with Aspergers Syndrome who enjoy successful an...
