Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 15, 2026

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
Published on: September 28, 2018
Social Thinking®: Science, Pseudoscience, or Antiscience?
Justin B Leaf1, Alyne Kassardjian1, Misty L Oppenheim-Leaf2
1Autism Partnership Foundation, 200 Marina Drive, Seal Beach, CA 90740 USA.
Abstract:
Today, there are several interventions that can be implemented with individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Most of these interventions have limited to no empirical evidence demonstrating their effectiveness, yet they are widely implemented in home, school, university, and community settings. In 1996, Green wrote a chapter in which she outlined three levels of science: evidence science, pseudoscience, and antiscience; professionals were encouraged to implement and recommend only those procedures that would be considered evidence science. Today, an intervention that is commonly implemented with individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder is Social Thinking®. This intervention has been utilized by behaviorists and non-behaviorists. This commentary will outline Social Thinking® and provide evidence that the procedure, at the current time, qualifies as a pseudoscience and, therefore, should not be implemented with individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, especially given the availability of alternatives which clearly meet the standard of evidence science.
Related Concept Videos
Scientific Nature of Social Psychology
Social Proof
Psychology as a Science
The scientific method in psychology involves six critical steps: making observations, formulating hypotheses, conducting tests, analyzing...
Impact of Individuals on Individuals
Defining Social Psychology
Social Psychology and Individual Behavior

