The Construction of Autism: Socio-Historical Contexts that have Contributed to the Understanding of Autism
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Authors
Nicolajsen, Jenelle
Issue Date
2025-07-27
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
autism , social construct , socio-historical
Alternative Title
Abstract
In this study, I will explore the understanding of autism, building awareness that this understanding is dependent on available knowledge, which is influenced by socio-historical contexts, power relations, and a changing understanding of human behaviour (Gutting & Oksala, 2022; Krylova, 2024; Williams, 2005). Subsequently, I will use research to demonstrate that autism is therefore a social construction. Currently, there is minimal literature discussing the historical and social construction of autism with explanations of the limited truths upheld in that construction (Hollin, 2014; Runswick-Cole et al., 2016; Wodzinski & Golaska-Ciesielska, 2021). As such, the label holds negative stereotypes and opinions, and results in individuals with the autism diagnosis being marginalized in society. It is therefore, critical to answer the question: How has autism been socially constructed?
Concurrently, this study will identify limits on the constructed meanings of autism in the research and propose an in depth mapping out of this construction. Firstly, I will draw from theory, or specifically a post-structural theoretical framework to develop an understanding of the rationale for my argument about the impact of social-historical constructions on current knowledge. Then, I will explore the history of psychology, followed as an extension by the history of the development and evolution of assessment and diagnosis to provide awareness of how autism gained recognition as a diagnosis, and subsequently the main way of understanding a human behaviour perceived as abnormal to modern society. Revealing this social construction will allow me to draw on the limits of knowledge and reveal evidence that knowledge changes throughout time. Lastly, I will review the literature that reveals autism as a social construction to argue for greater awareness of the changing diagnostic criteria and beliefs about autism.
Collectively, I will use these reviews to build the argument that there is the potential for negative impacts of the diagnosis on individuals who are labeled as autistic. This will provide rationale for my methods section, which is a proposal to conduct a research project mapping a comprehensive and in-depth construction of as many social-cultural-historical forces, or power relations, socially constructing autism, which is a pathology of immense importance to millions of people. By developing a more thorough and accurate understanding of the boundaries of autism, the reasons for its construction and any unseen problems and unintended consequences, individuals with the label may be able to live better lives. At the very least, they will be empowered with a greater range of choices as to how the label may affect them.