Students’ Stereotypes of Autism

Abstract

This research aimed to ascertain the contents (Study 1) and valence (Study 2) of the stereotype associated with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) in university students. Study 1 used a free-response methodology where participants listed the characteristics that they thought society associates with individuals with ASC. This study revealed that the stereotypic traits most frequently reported by students without personal experience of ASC were poor social skills, being introverted and withdrawn, poor communication and difficult personality or behaviour. Study 2 had participants rate the valence of the 10 most frequently mentioned stereotypic traits identified in Study 1, along with additional traits frequently used to describe disabled and non-disabled people. This study found that eight of the ten most frequently listed stereotypic traits from Study 1 were seen as negative, and were rated significantly more negatively than traits used to describe non-disabled people. The knowledge of the contents and valence of the stereotype of ASC gained from this research can be used to tackle negative aspects of this stereotype.

"Autism is me": an investigation of how autistic individuals make sense of autism and stigma

“…The most frequently mentioned stereotypes were that autism was a 'male' thing, that autistic people were capable of violence, and of autism as a 'White' disorder. Similarly, participants mentioned frequent stereotypes of autism, such as autistic people being difficult, angry, awkward, and less often a genius (Wood and Freeth 2016). It is interesting that the only time a participant did mention the stereotype of genius, they prefixed it with the term "retarded", juxtaposing a "positively" rated stereotype of autism with a term which heavily stigmatising (Nash et al 2012).…”

“…The majority of the stereotypes held about autistic individuals are negative (Wood and Freeth 2016). Autistic individuals have reported a sense of feeling trapped by the stereotypes non-autistic people hold of them (Treweek et al 2019).…”

“…Similarly, media representations (Holton, Farrell, and Fudge 2014;Huws and Jones 2011;Jones and Harwood 2009) and stereotypes of autism (Wood and Freeth 2016) are predominantly negative. Eight of the top ten stereotypes non-autistic people associate with autism are rated negatively (including autistic people as having difficult personalities/behaviour, being withdrawn, and awkward).…”

“…This is not to suggest that there are no "positive" framings of autism, rather that they occur less frequently. Of the top ten stereotypes non-autistic people hold towards autistic people, only two are rated as being positive: "high-intelligence" and "special abilities" (Wood and Freeth 2016). These positively rated framings also occur in media representations of autism, and are associated with Savant-Syndrome (such as Sheldon Cooper, or Rain Man) (Draaisma 2009).…”

Extending the Minority Stress Model to Understand Mental Health Problems Experienced by the Autistic Population

“…Similarly, labelling theory (Link & Phelan 1987) may also explain why outness decreases mental health and wellbeing; post diagnosis, certain labels are attached to the individual and stereotypes often attached to autism are rarely positive, with 9 of 10 being derogatory (Wood and Freeth 2016). However, there was a significant negative relationship between psychological distress and diagnosis, with higher distress experienced among those with a diagnosis.…”