In response to Joan Warmbold's suggestion that >Henry Massie, M.D. was onto something with his research >in the 1970's in which he analyzed videos of the interactions >between parents and children BEFORE the onset of 'autistic-like' >behaviors. His analysis determined that there was a distinct lack >of appropriate response to the infants' signals...
Paul Brandon wrote: >I know of a couple of individual cases (people that I've known) that >are consistent with a social deprivation hypothesis. Anecdotal, of >course. How did Massie get his samples (the representativeness issue)? To which question I would add: Did Massie do the same research with a corresponding number of (blind) controls to eliminate the possibility of confirmation bias in his analyses? Judging by this: http://www.childdevelopmentmedia.com/intervention-prevention/91936p.html the answer is "No". This leaves aside a possibility that would need to be investigated that some differences in parental behaviour (if such were found) could be a consequence of the parents of "pre-autistic" infants responding to subtle early signs that are not evident in overt symptoms. None of this argues against Massie's urging research into the early detection of autism in infants and the investigation of early interventions that may reduce the severity of autistic symptoms in later childhood. Allen Esterson Former lecturer, Science Department Southwark College, London http://www.esterson.org ******************************************** Subject: Re: MMR doctor Andrew Wakefield fixed data on autism - Times Online From: Paul Brandon <[email protected]> Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2009 17:05:01 -0600 Reply-To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <[email protected]> I know of a couple of individual cases (people that I've known) that are consistent with a social deprivation hypothesis. Anecdotal, of course. How did Massie get his samples (the representativeness issue)? On Feb 7, 2009, at 4:49 PM, Joan Warmbold wrote: > Just BTW, I still believe that Henry Massie, M.D. was onto > something with > his research in the 1970's in which he analyzed videos of the > interactions > between parents and children BEFORE the onset of 'autistic-like' > behaviors. His analysis determined that there was a distinct lack of > appropriate response to the infants' signals. However, his case > studies > make it extremely clear that the parents were not in anyway aware or > intentionally rejecting their infants, as per Bettelheim's > destructive and > cruel hypothesis. I won't go any further as I am very aware of how > sensitive and politically incorrect any comment on a possible > relationship > between early experiences and autism is. But I do wish more of you > tipsters would consider reading some of Henry Massie's work. If > you wish > to critique his research, please focus on the data and his analysis as > opposed to his particular psychological perspectives. Paul Brandon Emeritus Professor of Psychology Minnesota State University, Mankato [email protected] --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
