Neurogradualism: Neurodiversity without Categorical Difference, a case study of Autism

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

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Bervoets, J. (2021). Neurogradualism: Neurodiversity without Categorical Difference, a case study of Autism [Preprint]. Center for Open Science. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/9yq5m

Publisher
Center for Open Science
Publication date: 29 Nov 2021 Added to AutiHub: 4 Jul 2026 Type: Preprint Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) Full text OpenAlex source

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Authors

Publication authors
1
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 1 (100.0%)
  1. Jo Bervoets *

Abstract

This paper is a study of the link between the phenomenological theme of embodiment and the hermeneutical theme of making (participatory) sense of each other. Using autism as a case in point, I investigate the relation between breakdowns of the latter and neurological diversity. Is trying to explain psychopathologies like autism in this sense not just a way of understanding the human condition as such? In arguing for an emphatic ‘Yes!’ to this question, I elaborate a case for an empathic neurogradualism. This means that instead of emphasizing the gap between ‘neurocultures’ we come to an understanding of neurodiversity which informs mutual and self-understanding across such cultures. In this view the phenomenology of desynchronization and the cognitive science underlying views on neurodiversity mutually inform each other and neurodiversity becomes a source of inspiration rather than a matter of categorical separation.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 2 Oct 2026 07:53.

Cited references
20
With a DOI
17
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
0
4 / 20 (20.0%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
0 / 20 (0.0%)
References with detected author names
20 / 20 (100.0%)
Without detected author names
0
Without a structured title
0
Without a stable identifier
0
References with raw author names still to review
0
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
37
From DOI or external metadata
37
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
0
12 / 37 (32.4%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 25 / 37 (67.6%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
4 / 37 (10.8%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 4 / 12 (33.3%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 3 / 33 (9.1%).
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    OpenAlex
  6. Sander Van de Cruys , Kris Evers , Ruth Van der Hallen , Lien Van Eylen , Bart Boets , Lee de-Wit et al. (2014). Precise minds in uncertain worlds: Predictive coding in autism. Psychological Review, 121(4), 649-675. American Psychological Association (APA).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1037/a0037665 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2098533845
    OpenAlex
  7. David T. Denhardt (2018). Effect of stress on human biology: Epigenetics, adaptation, inheritance, and social significance . Journal of Cellular Physiology, 233(3), 1975-1984. Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1002/jcp.25837 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2585114064
    OpenAlex
  8. Mark H. Johnson (2017). Autism as an adaptive common variant pathway for human brain development . Dev Cogn Neurosci, 25, 5. Elsevier BV.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2017.02.004 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2586914804
    OpenAlex
  9. Damian Milton * (2017). A Mismatch of Salience: Explorations of the Nature of Autism from Theory to Practice .
    Type: Book OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2762953930
    OpenAlex
  10. Dimitris Bolis , Joshua Balsters , Nicole Wenderoth , Cristina Becchio , Leonhard Schilbach (2017). Beyond Autism: Introducing the Dialectical Misattunement Hypothesis and a Bayesian Account of Intersubjectivity . Psychopathology, 50(6), 355-372. S. Karger AG.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1159/000484353 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2764030498
    OpenAlex
  11. Matthew Ratcliffe (2017). Real Hallucinations: Psychiatric Illness, Intentionality, and the Interpersonal World .
    Type: Book OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2768904944
    OpenAlex
  13. Herwig Czech (2018). Hans Asperger, National Socialism, and “race hygiene” in Nazi-era Vienna . Molecular Autism, 9(1), 29-29. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1186/s13229-018-0208-6 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2801876565
    OpenAlex
  14. Kristien Hens , Raymond Langenberg (2018). Experiences of Adults Following an Autism Diagnosis . Springer International Publishing.
    Type: Book DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-97973-1 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2894221358
    OpenAlex
  15. Hayley Morgan (2018). A mismatch of salience: explorations of the nature of autism from theory to practice . Disability & Society, 33(10), 1681-1683. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/09687599.2018.1541617 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2906494691
    OpenAlex
  18. Thomas Fuchs (2015). Pathologies of Intersubjectivity in Autism and Schizophrenia . Journal of Consciousness Studies, 22(1), 191.
    Type: Article OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3174307776
    OpenAlex
  19. Richard M. Glass (2009). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) . Oxford University Press.
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  20. Donald Davidson (2001). On the Very Idea of a Conceptual Scheme . In Inquiries into Truth and Interpretation (pp. 183-198). Oxford University PressOxford.
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    OpenAlex