Towards a more Humane Society. Contemplating an emotion, one line a day.
Our divided and conflicted world needs compassion more than ever. #MentalHealth.
Compassion is the salve that heals the wounds of hate
Towards a more Humane Society. Contemplation, 1 line a day.
Our divided and conflicted world needs compassion more than ever. #MentalHealth.
Hostile Attribution Bias in Autism
Hostile attribution bias refers to the tendency to interpret others' ambiguous behaviors as having hostile intent. For instance, if someone accidentally bumps into a person with hostile attribution bias, they might assume it was done on purpose rather than an accident. This cognitive bias often leads to increased aggression and conflict in social interactions as the individual responds defensively or aggressively to perceived threats that may not actually exist.
Research on hostile attribution bias has predominantly focused on its prevalence in populations with externalizing behaviors, such as aggression and conduct disorders. However, given the social communication challenges and the difficulty in interpreting social cues that are characteristic of autism, it is plausible that hostile attribution bias, could play a role in their social interactions.
Indeed, research suggests autistics [1] were more likely to interpret ambiguous social situations as hostile compared to their neurotypical peers. This tendency was linked to higher levels of social anxiety and other maladaptive (including aggression and SIB) behavior in these children.
However this hostile attribution bias, should not just be the attributed to the fact of disability, a.k.a, "difficulty in interpreting social cues in autism." It could well be the product of a lifetime of societal stigma and bias; exclusion, discrimination and misunderstanding. Research in social psychology supports the notion that chronic exposure to negative social experiences can shape cognitive and emotional responses. For individuals who consistently face these challenges, it is not uncommon to develop a heightened sensitivity to potential threats or hostile intentions in social interactions. They develop a lack of trust that people and systems around them will help them. This heightened sensitivity can manifest as hostile attribution bias, where even ambiguous or benign actions by others are interpreted as intentionally harmful or malicious.
So the context of autism, individuals often face a unique set of social challenges and stigmatization, which can compound their difficulties in interpreting social cues. Studies have shown that individuals with autism are frequently subjected to social rejection, and misunderstandings [2].And this stigma, exclusion and gatekeeping of opportunities for autistics tends to be even more pronounced, the more disabled you are seen, especially for autistics with externalizing behaviors and communication issues. It starts at a very early age where you are deemed incapable of learning and placed in a low expectations educational system which just deepens a self-fulfilling prophesy. You quickly learn the educators and educational system who's role was to educate and nurture you, are the often the very people who will gatekeep access to education itself. The autistic is to blame for not improving, the onus is never on the educators or professionals involved. Autism is a huge profit making machine where millions benefit (fame, books, papers); everyone except the autistic.
These repeated negative interactions can reinforce a worldview where social threats are perceived as more prevalent, leading to increased hostile attribution bias. The combination of social communication difficulties inherent in autism and the external societal stigma creates a fertile ground for developing such cognitive biases [2], which only adds to their mental health toll.
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Read more on Hostile Attribution Bias: [Version for Scientific/Academic Audience], [PlainSpeak for the Lay Reader], [A Simple Definition]
Related Posts on [Neuroception], [Negative Attribution Bias]
References
- 1. White, S. W., Ollendick, T., & Bray, B. C. (2011). College students on the autism spectrum: Prevalence and associated problems. Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 15(6), 683-701.
- 2. Zablotsky, B., Bradshaw, C. P., Anderson, C. M., & Law, P. A. (2014). The association between bullying and the psychological functioning of children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 35(2), 106-116.
Compassion is the currency of humanity
Towards a more Humane Society. Contemplating an emotion, 1 line a day.
Our divided and conflicted world needs compassion more than ever. #MentalHealth.
Compassion is the foundation of a life well lived
Towards a more Humane Society. Contemplating an emotion, 1 line a day.
Our divided and conflicted world needs compassion more than ever. #MentalHealth.
Self Perception
Self-perception refers to how individuals perceive themselves, including their physical, cognitive, emotional, and social attributes. It involves forming an understanding of one's own characteristics, abilities, and behaviors. Self-perception can encompass both internal aspects, such as thoughts and emotions, and external aspects, such as appearance and social roles. It involves recognizing oneself as a distinct entity separate from others and the environment.
- Formation: Self-perception starts to develop early in life and continues to evolve throughout one's lifespan. It begins with self-recognition during infancy and progresses through social interactions, personal experiences, and feedback from others. As individuals engage with their environment and receive information about themselves, they construct their self-perception.
- Multifaceted Nature: Dimensions include physical attributes, such as appearance and health; cognitive aspects, such as intellectual abilities and problem-solving skills; emotional characteristics, including one's emotional states and temperament; and social aspects, such as social roles, identities, and relationships. These facets come together to form a multifaceted self-perception.
- Internal and External Factors: Internal factors, such as one's own thoughts, beliefs, and self-reflection, contribute to self-perception. For example, individuals might assess their own abilities and personality traits through introspection. External factors, on the other hand, include feedback and evaluations received from others, social comparisons, cultural norms, and societal expectations. Both internal and external factors shape and influence self-perception.
- Self-Consistency and Cognitive Dissonance: Self-perception theory suggests that individuals strive for consistency between their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. When there is a mismatch between one's self-perception and their actions, cognitive dissonance arises, leading individuals to seek alignment. This can result in changes in self-perception or adjustments in behavior to restore consistency.
- Self-Esteem and Self-Perception: Self-perception and self-esteem are closely intertwined. Self-esteem refers to an individual's overall evaluation and subjective feelings of self-worth. Positive self-perception, where individuals perceive themselves favorably in various domains, tends to contribute to higher self-esteem. Conversely, negative self-perception can lead to lower self-esteem and negative self-evaluations.
- Contextual and Cultural Influences: Cultural values, beliefs, and socialization practices shape how individuals perceive themselves and what aspects they prioritize in their self-perception.
Owl sighting
On a tree branch, the owl sits tight,
Watching all with wide eyes bright!
saw an owl scoop down and then fly up to perch on a backyard tree yesterday
and more owl hoots today.
Schrödinger's cat
Schrödinger's cat is a thought experiment in quantum mechanics, proposed by the physicist Erwin Schrödinger in 1935. The experiment was designed to illustrate the paradoxical nature of quantum mechanics and the uncertainty principle.
In the thought experiment, a cat is placed in a sealed box along with a radioactive substance, a Geiger counter, and a poison. If the Geiger counter detects a radioactive decay, it will trigger the poison and the cat will die. However, according to quantum mechanics, the radioactive decay is in a superposition of states, both decayed and not decayed, until it is observed. Therefore, until the box is opened and the radioactive decay is observed, the cat is considered to be both alive and dead, in a superposition of states.
The thought experiment is often used to illustrate the concept of superposition and the idea that a quantum system can exist in multiple states simultaneously. It also highlights the role of observation and measurement in quantum mechanics, and the idea that the act of observation can collapse a superposition into a definite state.
In the thought experiment, a cat is placed in a sealed box along with a radioactive substance, a Geiger counter, and a poison. If the Geiger counter detects a radioactive decay, it will trigger the poison and the cat will die. However, according to quantum mechanics, the radioactive decay is in a superposition of states, both decayed and not decayed, until it is observed. Therefore, until the box is opened and the radioactive decay is observed, the cat is considered to be both alive and dead, in a superposition of states.
The thought experiment is often used to illustrate the concept of superposition and the idea that a quantum system can exist in multiple states simultaneously. It also highlights the role of observation and measurement in quantum mechanics, and the idea that the act of observation can collapse a superposition into a definite state.
Compassion is the fuel that drives the engine of change
Towards a more Humane Society. Contemplating an emotion, 1 line a day.
Our divided and conflicted world needs compassion more than ever. #MentalHealth.
Interoception and exteroception
[Concepts in Sensorimotor Research]
Interoception refers to the sense of the internal state of the body. It helps us understand and feel what's going on inside our bodies, like feeling hungry, thirsty, or perceiving our heartbeat. Interoceptive awareness contributes to emotional regulation and self-awareness.
Exteroception refers to the perception of the external environment through our senses like vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. These senses help us navigate and interact with the world around us.
Research findings in autism:
Autistics often exhibit differences in sensory processing, which may include atypical interoceptive and exteroceptive perception. Findings (examples below) suggest that atypical interoceptive and exteroceptive processing may be significant factors in understanding the behavioral and sensory symptoms in individuals with autism.
- This review explores the role of oxytocin in interoception and its potential implications for autism. The authors propose that atypical interoceptive processing, potentially linked to altered oxytocin functioning, could contribute to the social and emotional difficulties experienced by autistics. (1)
- This study found that adult autistics exhibited significantly lower interoceptive awareness compared to NT adults. The authors suggest that this might be related to the difficulties in social and emotional processing seen in autism (2).
- This review discusses various neurophysiological findings in sensory processing, including exteroception, in autistics. The authors highlight that altered sensory processing may contribute to the core features of ASD, such as social communication and repetitive behaviors (3)
Self Consciousness
Self-consciousness refers to a psychological state in which an person is aware of themselves as a distinct entity, separate from their surroundings, and possesses a sense of self-awareness. It involves the ability to reflect upon and recognize one's thoughts, emotions, and actions, as well as to perceive oneself as an object of observation and evaluation by others.
Self-consciousness is a fundamental aspect of human cognition and plays a significant role in shaping our experiences, behavior, and social interactions. It is believed to emerge during early childhood as part of the development of self-identity and continues to evolve throughout a person's lifetime
Self-consciousness encompasses various aspects, including self-perception, self-reflection, self-evaluation, and self-awareness. It involves the ability to introspect and engage in self-analysis, examining one's thoughts, beliefs, desires, and intentions. It also entails being aware of one's own body and physical presence in space.
Self-consciousness also involves a social dimension, as individuals may become aware of how they are perceived by others and adjust their behavior accordingly. This can lead to feelings of self-consciousness in social situations, where people may feel concerned about being judged or evaluated by others.
While self-consciousness can influence self-esteem, they are separate concepts. Self-consciousness refers to the awareness of oneself, while self-esteem relates to one's evaluation and feelings of self-worth.
Research suggests atypical self-consciousness in autism.
- This study examined self-referential cognition and empathy in individuals with autism using self-report questionnaires. The findings suggested that autistics may have reduced self-referential processing and difficulties with empathy (1)
- Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), this study investigated self-referential processing . The results indicated altered neural activation in brain regions associated with self-representation, suggesting atypical self-consciousness in autism (2).
- This longitudinal study explored self-recognition and self-consciousness in children with autism using tasks such as mirror self-recognition and pretend play. The findings suggested delayed development of self-recognition and reduced engagement in pretend play in children with autism (3).
- This review article proposed the social motivation theory of autism, which emphasizes the influence of altered self-consciousness on social behavior and social cognition in autistics. It provides insights into how self-consciousness is linked to the broader social challenges observed in autism (4).
As always research on autism is not set in stone and is still evolving.
IPASE - Psychotic-Like Anomalous Self-Experiences
Lexicon [Measures] - IPASE
Used in psychology/psychiatry to capture subtle manifestations of psychosis-like experiences that do not meet the full diagnostic criteria for a psychotic disorder.
Submeasures include.
- Self-disorders: disturbances in the sense of self, including disruptions in self-awareness, self-boundaries, and self-other differentiation.
- Cognitive disturbances: cognitive anomalies such as thought interference, disorganized thinking, and difficulties in attention and concentration.
- Perceptual anomalies: perceptual disturbances such as hallucinations, illusions, and alterations in the perception of time or space.
- Thought abnormalities: unusual or idiosyncratic beliefs, magical thinking, and experiences of thought control or insertion.
Limitations:
Limitations wrt use in autism population
- self-report measures are subject to biases and inaccuracies.
- Not a dx tool.
Limitations wrt use in autism population
- While there may be autism features that appear to overlap with psychosis (eg: social communication deficits & RRB) they are not indicative of true psychosis.
Compassion is the hand that reaches out to lift someone up
Towards a more Humane Society. Contemplating an emotion, 1 line a day.
Our divided and conflicted world needs compassion more than ever. #MentalHealth.
Autism and GI Issues
There is a strong link between gastrointestinal (GI) issues and autism. Studies have shown that up to 90% of people with ASD have some type of GI problem, compared to about 20% of the general population. The most common GI problems seen in autism are constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, vomiting, reflux, IBD, Celiac disease, food allergies and food intolerance.
There are a number of possible explanations for the link between GI issues and ASD. One possibility is an increased sensitivity to certain foods or food additives. Another possibility is an imbalance of gut bacteria, which can lead to GI problems. Additionally, autistics may have difficulty communicating their GI symptoms, which can make it difficult to diagnose and treat these problems.
Oddball Paradigm
The oddball paradigm is a cognitive research method involving the detection of infrequent, deviant stimuli within a series of standard stimuli, used to study sensory processing, attention, and cognitive control. It is widely used in autism research as it helps identify atypical neural and behavioral responses.
PlainSpeak: The oddball paradigm is an experiment where people detect unusual items in a series of regular items. It's used in autism research to understand how people with autism process information differently.
Read more about Oddball Paradigms
O friend
Today I got a email offering an appointment to the Scientific Committee of the 14th Autism Europe Congress 2025 to be held in Dublin, Ireland. The Autism Europe Congress is a triennial scientific conference bringing together stakeholders to discuss autism research.
What I especially loved was that the email started with "A chara" (a traditional opening to an Irish letter – translating as “O Friend”) and ended with "Mise leas mise" (a traditional closing to an Irish letter – translating as “It is I, with respect”).
It is so affirmative and speaks to connections filled with kindness, which all of us need a lot more of. Will definitely be contemplating on those phrases more. Parallels to Metta (Buddhist), Kalyanamastu (Sanskrit), Ofa Lahi Atu (Tongan), Ubuntu (Bantu) or a new word I came across recently Takiwatanga (the Maori word for autism, which roughly means "in our own space and time").Compassion is the balm that soothes the wounds of the world
Towards a more Humane Society. Contemplating an emotion, 1 line a day.
Our divided and conflicted world needs compassion more than ever. #MentalHealth.
Ofa Lahi Atu
"Ofa lahi atu" is a phrase in Tongan that is often used to express deep love and respect.
The literal English translation of "Ofa lahi atu" is "much love to you", but its meaning goes beyond the words themselves. In Tongan culture, the expression is often used to convey a sense of gratitude, humility, and reverence for others, nature, and the divine.
In a philosophical sense, "Ofa lahi atu" can be understood as a recognition of the underlying unity and interdependence of all things. It suggests that love and respect are not only essential for personal relationships but also for the harmonious functioning of society and the natural world.
The phrase "Ofa lahi atu" can be relevant in the context of autism and disability by emphasizing the importance of love, respect, and interconnectedness. People with disabilities, including autistics, often face social, emotional, and physical challenges that can make them feel isolated and marginalized.
By expressing and acting with a feeling of "Ofa lahi atu" towards autistics, society can convey deep love and respect for autistics, affirm their dignity and worth as human beings. remind us that our interconnectedness extends beyond our immediate social circles and includes all. It can inspire us to work towards creating a more inclusive and supportive society that values diversity, promotes empathy, and fosters mutual understanding.
Groups in the autism space community too needs to express and act with a mindset of “Ofa lahi atu’ towards each other, instead of the current vicious bickering between polarized groups of “who has the loudest voice” and undermining other groups. We can recognize each others unique strengths, be accepting of all challenges methodologies, and perspectives and work towards solutions that address a wide range of needs.
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