PSGY3013: Autism in the CJS

What term is most preferred by the autism community to describe themselves?

Autistic person

What term do professionals prefer when referring to individuals with autism?

Person with autism

What range of terms do the autism community use to describe themselves?

Autistic, Aspie, On the spectrum, Person with autism

What year was the research conducted that analyzed the preferred terms in the autism community?

2016

What percentage of the population is autistic?

1% of the population (700,000 in the UK) are autistic.

What is the official term for autism in the DSM-V?

Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Why do some prefer the term 'condition' over 'disorder' for autism?

It is less stigmatising.

What does Asperger Syndrome commonly refer to?

People on the spectrum without language delay or learning disability.

When was Asperger Syndrome introduced?

In 1992.

Is Asperger Syndrome still included in the DSM-V?

No, it was recently removed but is still in use in the UK.

What does 'high functioning' autism refer to?

Autism without intellectual disability.

What are the two main areas of impairment in the Diagnostic Criteria for Autism?

Social communication and interaction; restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activities.

What is one aspect of restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour in Autism?

Sensory abnormalities.

What do autistic people experience?

difficulties in socialisation and communication (with non-autistic people; Crompton et al., 2019; Heasman & Gillespie, 2019).

sensory hypersensitivity, narrow intense interests (Hannant et al. 2016).

difficult life experiences (Griffiths et al., 2019).

79% co-occurring mental health conditions (Lever & Guerts, 2017).

misunderstanding by non-autistic people (Alkhaldi et al., 2019; Sasson et al., 2017).

disadvantaged and stigmatized social status - minority stress

What is Monotropism?

Difficulty attending to more than one thing at once and switching attention from one task to another.

What are the difficulties associated with episodic memory?

Difficulties remembering the past.

What is abstract future thinking?

Difficulties imagining the future.

What is black and white thinking?

A cognitive style characterized by literal interpretation.

What is Theory of Mind?

The ability to take another person's perspective.

Medical vs. Social Models of Disability

Difficulties:

Prejudice

Barriers

Differences

Knowledge

What is the double empathy problem?

When people with very different experiences of the world interact with one another, they will struggle to empathise with each other.

Who proposed the concept of the double empathy problem?

Milton, 2012

How do autistic individuals interact with each other compared to neurotypical individuals?

Autistic-autistic interactions are more efficient than autistic-neurotypical interactions.

What does the medical model suggest about autistic interactions?

It suggests that autistic-autistic interaction difficulties are compounded.

What are diffusion chains?

Diffusion chains are sequences of individuals through which information is passed, often studied in the context of social interactions.

Is autistic peer-to-peer information transfer more efficient than mixed autistic - non-autistic transfer?

Yes, autistic peer-to-peer information transfer is more efficient than the mixed chain.

What were the criteria for matching participants in the study by Crompton et al. (2019)?

Participants were matched on age, gender, IQ, education, and diagnosis.

What is a critical appraisal point regarding the sample in Crompton et al. (2019)?

The sample was not representative due to its small size and inclusion of autistic adults without co-occurring intellectual disability.

What was a limitation regarding participants' awareness in the study?

Participants were aware of their diagnostic status.

What was a limitation regarding gender balance in the study?

The chains were not gender balanced.

What did Sasson et al (2017) study about perceptions of autistic people?

They studied how autistic and non-autistic adults are perceived during interactions.

How many participants were involved in the Sasson et al (2017) study?

12 autistic and 16 non-autistic adults.

What was the matching criteria for the groups in the Sasson et al (2017) study?

Groups were matched on age, IQ, and gender.

Who rated the participants in the Sasson et al (2017) study?

36 undergraduate students rated the people from 10 images randomly sampled from the videos.

How did non-autistic people tend to rate autistic people according to Sasson et al (2017)?

Less socially favorably, except for ratings of trustworthy and smart.

What factors did not influence the ratings of autistic people in the Sasson et al (2017) study?

Speech content; ratings were influenced by other audio/visual cues.

What limitation did the authors note about the sample in the Sasson et al (2017) study?

The sample was largely male and included autistic adults without intellectual disability.

What did Sheppard et al. (2019) find regarding non-autistic people's perceptions of autistic individuals?

Non-autistic people find autistic people relatively harder to read.

According to Alkhaldi et al. (2019), why might non-autistic people rate autistic individuals negatively?

Because they are hard to read.

What effect does disclosing an autism diagnosis have on perceptions of autistic people?

It increases favorability ratings of autistic people.

How does increased knowledge about autism affect perceptions of autistic individuals?

It increases favorability ratings of autistic people.

How do autistic people process information and interact with others?

Autistic people have a unique way of processing information and interacting with others, which is difficult for non-autistic people to interpret.

How are autistic people often perceived by non-autistic people?

Autistic people tend to be misperceived and rated negatively by non-autistic people.

What could lead non-autistic people to view autistic people more favourably?

Increased knowledge of autism and disclosure of autism diagnosis could lead non-autistic people to view autistic people more favourably.

What is uncertain about the change in perception of autistic people in lab settings?

It is uncertain if the change in perception is implicit or socially desirable behaviour in a lab setting.

When was autism included as a diagnostic category?

In the 1980s.

What is a significant issue regarding autism research in the criminal justice system?

There are many unanswered questions due to a lack of research.

How well researched is intellectual disability in the criminal justice system?

It is relatively well researched.

Do many autistic people have co-occurring intellectual disabilities?

Yes, many do.

Why is research into autistic individuals without co-occurring intellectual disabilities important?

To address their unique needs.

What characterizes intellectual disability?

Impairments in cognitive, language, and social abilities.

What has some research shown about offending behavior in individuals with intellectual disabilities?

It has shown increased offending behavior, but findings are not robust.

What factors can influence the likelihood of increased offending behavior in individuals with intellectual disabilities?

Rigorous studies that carefully screen for ID and control for social deprivation.

How does the availability of diversion routes affect individuals with intellectual disabilities in the criminal justice system?

They are less likely to become involved if more diversion routes are available.

What challenges do individuals with intellectual disabilities face regarding their rights in the criminal justice system?

They may not understand their rights.

What is a risk for individuals with intellectual disabilities during police interrogations?

They are more suggestible and acquiescent, increasing the risk of false confessions.

How does the lack of good advice affect individuals with intellectual disabilities in the criminal justice system?

They are more likely to make poor decisions than the general population.

What issue arises from intellectual disabilities not being recognized by criminal justice professionals?

There is a lack of legal protection.

What difficulty do individuals with intellectual disabilities face in understanding the criminal justice system?

They struggle with complex language, including the meanings of guilty vs. not guilty.

What is a common difficulty experienced by individuals with both autism and intellectual disability?

Co-occurring intellectual disability and language difficulties (not universally).

What is a characteristic interest pattern often seen in individuals with autism?

Narrow circumscribed interests.

What behavior is often exhibited by individuals with autism regarding routines?

Insistence on sameness / routine.

What social challenge do individuals with autism often face?

Social vulnerability and naivety.

What cognitive concept is often challenging for individuals with autism?

Theory of mind.

What sensory issue is commonly associated with autism?

Sensory hypersensitivity.

What type of social communication difficulties might individuals with autism experience?

Social and communication difficulties, particularly with non-autistic people.

Do autistic people generally appreciate rules and routine?

Yes, autistic people appreciate rules and routine.

What can increase anxiety for autistic individuals?

Increased anxiety can occur at breaking social rules.

What is one factor that may increase the risk of offending in autistic individuals?

Increased vulnerability to manipulation by others.

How can distress from interrupted routines affect autistic individuals?

It can increase the risk of offending.

What difficulties can autistic individuals face in social situations?

They may have a lack of understanding and difficulties with negotiating.

How might obsessive interests lead to offending in autistic individuals?

Pursuing an obsessive interest may lead to committing an offence.

What can exacerbate the risk of offending related to obsessive interests?

Difficulties in recognizing the impact of their actions on others.

What did Gary McKinnon admit to doing?

Accessing US government computers and causing over $800,000 worth of damage.

What was Gary McKinnon's claim for accessing US government computers?

He claimed he was looking for evidence of UFOs.

What condition was Gary McKinnon diagnosed with?

Asperger Syndrome.

Since when did Gary McKinnon fight extradition to the US?

Since 2002.

What was the UK government's decision regarding Gary McKinnon's extradition in 2012?

They decided against extradition based on human rights concerns.

What were the human rights concerns regarding Gary McKinnon's extradition?

Depression and increased suicide risk if extradited.

What issues does Gary McKinnon's case highlight regarding autistic individuals?

Vulnerabilities such as pursuing obsessive interests and lack of understanding of the impact of actions on others.

How did Gary McKinnon's diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome affect his case?

It was not really taken into account during the legal proceedings.

What is a positive aspect of critical appraisal of single case studies?

They are useful for exploring real life examples of cases.

How can single case studies inform future research?

They can indicate what to measure in a wider study.

What is a negative aspect of single case studies in relation to prevalence?

They cannot tell us anything about prevalence.

Why are single case studies considered biased?

They are not representative and can reinforce stereotypes.

What caution should be taken when interpreting single case studies about autistic people?

We cannot conclude that autistic people are generally likely to be x, y, z.

What study did King & Murphy conduct in 2014?

A systematic review of studies exploring autism in the criminal justice system.

What search method did King & Murphy use in their 2014 study?

They used search terms to systematically search the literature.

What broad category addresses the prevalence of autistic people in offender populations?

Prevalence of autistic people in offender populations.

What broad category addresses the prevalence of offending behavior in autistic people?

Prevalence of offending behaviour in autistic people.

What broad category addresses the types of offences committed by autistic people?

Types of offence committed by autistic people.

What broad category addresses co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses of autistic offenders?

Co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses of autistic people who had offended.

What other factors were considered in the systematic review by King & Murphy?

Risk factors for and characteristics of offenders.

What criteria did King & Murphy use to evaluate included studies?

Pre-defined criteria for high quality study design in each area.

What is a key requirement for high-quality prevalence studies of autism in the criminal justice system (CJS)?

Unbiased samples (total population or random samples).

What should be specified when studying autism prevalence in the CJS?

The section of the CJS being studied (e.g. suspects, court, those convicted).

How should autistic individuals be identified in prevalence studies?

Via screening and full diagnostic interview (including previously unknown cases).

What did the systematic review by King & Murphy (2014) find about the studies on autism prevalence in the CJS?

Only 2 of 7 studies reported on total population/random samples.

What were the specific cases examined in the studies mentioned by King & Murphy (2014)?

335 cases appearing in court in Japan and 12 total prison populations in Scotland.

What was a common limitation found in the studies reviewed by King & Murphy (2014)?

Neither included both screening and diagnostic assessment for autism.