Psychodynamic and behavior modification approaches to the treatment of infantile autism

Empirical similarities
  • David Helm
Articles

Abstract

In the treatment of infantile autism, behaviorists emphasize directed behavioral change while psychodynamic therapists tend to focus attention on the worker-child relationship. A review of the literature suggests that both of these aspects of intervention are important, and that both play a role in virtually all therapeutic efforts. The similarities in methods of intervention found in the work of investigators of very different theoretical persuasion raise the possibility that most treatment methods owe more to empirical clinical experience than to their presumed derivation from a theoretical model. This thesis is further examined with respect to a 50-year-old case history by Lightmer Witmer, and the work of the present writer with an 11-year-old autistic boy.

Keywords

Theoretical Model Clinical Experience Behavioral Change Treatment Method Behavior Modification 
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Copyright information

© Plenum Publishing Corporation 1976

Authors and Affiliations

  • David Helm
    • 1
  1. 1.Loyola University of Chicago Guidance CenterChicago

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