Family and Clinician Perspectives About How Autism and Extremism Intersect

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Wijekoon, S., Robison, J. E., Welch, C., Westphal, A., Loftin, R., Jachyra, P., Perry, B., Rombos, V., Picciolini, C., Bosyj, C., Senman, L., Baron-Cohen, S., & Penner, M. (2026). Family and Clinician Perspectives About How Autism and Extremism Intersect. Autism in Adulthood. https://doi.org/10.1177/25739581251412666

Publication date: 10 Jan 2026 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
13
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 13 (7.7%)
  1. Sachindri Wijekoon
  2. John Elder Robison *
  3. Christie Welch
  4. Alexander Westphal
  5. Rachel Loftin
  1. Patrick Jachyra
  2. Barbara Perry
  3. Victoria Rombos
  4. Christian Picciolini
  5. Catherine Bosyj
  1. Lili Senman
  2. Simon Baron-Cohen
  3. Melanie Penner

Abstract

Introduction: Research exploring the contextual factors influencing the rare instances of autistic people engaging with extreme ideologies is limited. This article explores factors that affected autistic people who engaged with extreme ideologies, from the perspectives of close contacts and clinicians. Methods: This article presents findings from interviews with two participant groups: family and friends, and clinicians. We recruited participants through a gatekeeper, professional networks, and social media. We used reflexive thematic analysis to analyze the data. Results: Participants included seven family members and one friend in the first group and five clinicians in the second. Across both groups, we identified four themes: (1) experiences of social vulnerability; (2) autistic and neurodivergent characteristics in the context of risk; (3) negotiating a complex identity; and (4) a slippery rabbit hole. Social vulnerabilities including lack of secure attachments in childhood and social rejection led to a sense of persecution. System-level marginalization compounded the sense of exclusion. A negative autistic self-image was an important factor. Inflexible thinking, differences in social cognition, hyperfixation, and need for structure and routine were identified as neurodivergent features that could find a fit within the ideologies and practices of extremist groups. However, participants emphasized that autism itself did not fully account for this engagement. With limited engagement in prosocial real-world activities and ample idle time, internet algorithms exacerbated exposure to extreme ideologies, which offered provocative explanations for these autistic peoples’ struggles. Conclusions: Timely diagnosis, qualified and continuous support structures, neuroinclusive societies, and digital literacy are all key components to preventing autistic people from this harmful engagement.

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Bibliography inclusion overview

These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
53
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
4 / 53 (7.5%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
4 / 144 (2.8%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 4 / 57 (7.0%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 3 / 124 (2.4%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
57 / 144 (39.6%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 39 / 124 (31.5%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
53 / 57 (93.0%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 53 / 144 (36.8%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 36 / 39 (92.3%).
2 cited bibliography entries could not be fully enriched from DOI metadata.
Crossref: not found (1) · DataCite: not found (1)
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