Stranger in the mirror.

This programme, part of the BBC series Archive on 4, looks at theories surrounding autism. Michael Blastland whose son has the condition investigates how theories of the causes and treatment for autism have changed over time. He begins by looking at the influence of psychoanalysis in America from the 1940's on theories of autism. It became popular to link the relationship between the mother and child as a primary cause for autism and led to the term 'refrigerator mother' describing the lack of affection and bonding. This attitude is still prevalent in France in the 21st century. Michael Blastland looks at the differing attitudes to autism in other cultures where often there is a stigma attached to families where autism is present. This prevents effective treatment and appropriate interventions. He argues that attitudes towards autism change according to time, place and culture. Public attitudes to science are investigated in relation to the controversy over the MMR vaccine and the link with autism. It is argued that the controversy was mainly due to public mistrust. The developments in genetics are looked at in relation to autism. Professor Francesca Happen argues that there is a lot of personal and cultural bias in relation to autism and believes the different approaches between the UK and the US reflects our different preoccupations. In the US most research is centred around genetics and the neural causes of autism and finding a cure. In the UK there has been a tradition of being interested in the mind, cognition and how people with autism process the world. She states that autism is the same in the UK and US but it is the researcher’s perspectives that are different. The theory of mind or mind blindness is described which contests that people with autism can't see into our minds and intuitively work out what is going on in our heads. The idea that autism is linked to maleness and men is also looked at. Research has revealed that levels of fetal testosterone affect the amount of eye contact in a child as well as the learning of language skills. This is a first step in understanding the biology of social development and may suggest that children with autism have elevated levels of testosterone. Michael Blastland concludes that social attitudes to autism have changed and that generally there is more openness to difference. He believes our perceptions of autism over time have often reflected our own preoccupations.