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Conscious and Non-conscious Representations of Emotional Faces in Asperger's Syndrome
Published on: July 31, 2016
Asperger's syndrome: differences between parents' understanding and those diagnosed
Juanne Clarke1, Gudrun van Amerom
1Department of Sociology, Wilfrid Laurier University, 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3C5. jclarke@wlu.ca
Social Work in Health Care
|June 17, 2008
Summary
Parents and caregivers of individuals with Asperger's syndrome (AS) often seek medical interventions, while diagnosed individuals with AS advocate for self-acceptance, viewing societal barriers as the primary cause of distress.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Social psychology
Background:
- Asperger's syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental condition.
- Perspectives on AS vary significantly between diagnosed individuals and their families.
- Understanding these differing viewpoints is crucial for support and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze and compare the perspectives of individuals with AS and their parents/caretakers.
- To investigate the differing views on the medicalization and pathologization of AS.
- To explore the lived experiences and self-perceptions of individuals with AS.
Main Methods:
- Content analysis of 30 blogs from individuals with AS.
- Content analysis of 30 blogs from parents/caretakers of individuals with AS.
- Comparative analysis of themes and viewpoints expressed in the blogs.
Main Results:
- Significant divergence in perspectives between the two groups.
- Parents/caretakers often align with medical definitions and seek cures.
- Individuals with AS express contentment with their identity and attribute suffering to societal factors.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights a critical disconnect in understanding and approaching Asperger's syndrome.
- Findings suggest a need for approaches that respect self-identity and address societal barriers.
- Implications for theory, methodology, and practical support systems are discussed.
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