Listening to autistic voices regarding competing for social status

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Caldwell‐Harris, C. L. & Schwartz, A. M. (2023). Listening to autistic voices regarding competing for social status. Autism, 28(4), 1051-1052. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613231217057

Publication date: 24 Dec 2023 Added to AutiHub: 5 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
2
Publication authors identified as autistic
2 / 2 (100.0%)
  1. Catherine L. Caldwell‐Harris *
  2. Anna M. Schwartz *

Abstract

Autistic atypicality sociality has been historically attributed to mentalizing deficits. Examination of specific domains of social functioning could broaden the explanatory possibilities. We illustrate this for the domain of navigating social hierarchies. We review writings by autistic people, including advice books, memoirs, book reviews, online discussion posts, and the mission-statement of an autistic-led organization. These suggest that autistic people find status-seeking illogical, and prefer egalitarian relationships. Researchers are urged to study status seeking (and its avoidance) in autistic individuals, an approach that could illuminate autistic ethical strengths. Lay abstract Human social organizations are complex. Yet little research exists on autistic people’s attitudes about social hierarchies. Clinicians and the medical establishment regard social deficits as a key aspect of autism. If social deficits are paramount, then we expect autistic people to have difficulty navigating social hierarchies. We reject the premise of social deficits (while acknowledging that social misunderstandings interfere in the daily life of autistics) but suggest that researchers learn by listening to what autistic adults say about social hierarchies. We review writings by autistic people, including advice books, memoirs, book reviews, online discussion posts, and the mission-statement of an autistic-led organization. These suggest that autistic people find status-seeking illogical and prefer egalitarian relationships. The consistency of these themes across different types of writings is a reason for researchers to systematically study reduced status-seeking in autistic individuals.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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

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 11:30.

Cited references
7
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
2 / 7 (28.6%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
2 / 13 (15.4%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 2 / 8 (25.0%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 2 / 13 (15.4%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
8 / 13 (61.5%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 8 / 13 (61.5%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
6 / 8 (75.0%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 6 / 13 (46.2%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 6 / 8 (75.0%).
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    OpenAlex
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    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
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    Crossref
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    Crossref
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    Crossref