Abstract
This special section on autism etiology began with the paper submitted to The Analysis of Verbal Behavior by Drash and Tutor, who propose that autism is a contingency-shaped disorder of verbal behavior. The five papers that follow the Drash and Tutor paper provide reactions to their analysis by several behavior analysts working in the autism field. Only one of the five (Malott) is fully supportive of Drash and Tudor’s analysis of autism as a completely contingency-shaped disorder. The other four authors recognize the importance of environmental variables in the development and maintenance of autistic behavior, but caution against the neglect of genetic and other variables such as environmental intrusion, and insist that a complete behavioral theory of the etiology of autism must involve all three variables. The series ends with Drash and Tutor’s response to the five papers.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bettleheim, B. (1967). The emptyfortress. New York: Free Press.
Croen, L. A., Grether, J. K., Hoogstrate, J., & Selvin, S. (2002). The changing prevalence of autism in California. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 32, 207–215.
Drash, P. W., & Tudor, R. M. (2004). An analysis of autism as a contingency-shaped disorder of verbal behavior. The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, 20, 5–23.
Green, G. (1999). Science and ethics in early intervention for autism. In P. M. Ghezzi, W. L. Williams, & J. E. Carr (eds.). Autism: Behavior analytic perspectives (11–31). Reno, NV: Context Press.
Rutter, M. (1978). Diagnosis and definition of childhood autism. Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 8, 139–161.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (1999). Mental health: A report ofthe surgeon general. Rockville MD: U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse, and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sundberg, M.L. The Search for the Etiology of Autism. Analysis Verbal Behav 20, 3–4 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392987
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392987