Autism: Its Foundation and Practical Implications

Metadata sources used for this reference

OpenAlex Crossref OpenCitations
Learn more about the sources used

Lawson, W. (2025). Autism: Its Foundation and Practical Implications. In Understanding Developmental Disorders [Working Title]. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.1008929

Publication date: 23 Jan 2025 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Book chapter Article language: English
OpenAlex source Publisher source (DOI) Full text

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
1
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 1 (100.0%)
  1. Wenn Lawson *

Abstract

The following chapter explores and explains what ‘lies beneath’ the diagnosis of autism. The foundation for this chapter is based on original knowledge grounded in the theory of monotropism, heralded in the 2005 paper by Murray, Lesser and Lawson. The work on monotropism began in the 90’s and has been followed through until present times. Current research is supportive of the monotropism theory of autism which posits autism as ‘a matter of attention’, specifically ‘monotropic attention’. When attention is captured by interest (for whatever reason) it occupies the whole of one’s attention. This impacts concepts such as being literal (not reading between the lines), missing the subtle cues of social interaction and highlighting or underwhelming our sensory systems, challenges with object permanence and being misunderstood. But it also leads to incredible strengths and allows for one’s passion to be a source of joy, stability and an aid to mental fitness. When an individual’s autism is understood and accommodated, self-compassion can flourish and we can live life to the best of our ability. This chapter offers original knowledge to aid the understanding of autism that has not previously been accommodated.

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
37
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
12 / 37 (32.4%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
21 / 131 (16.0%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 21 / 60 (35.0%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 12 / 108 (11.1%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
60 / 131 (45.8%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 46 / 108 (42.6%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
39 / 60 (65.0%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 39 / 131 (29.8%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 34 / 46 (73.9%).
  1. Peter G. Gombosi (1998). Parents of Autistic Children . The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 53(1), 254-275. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/00797308.1998.11822486 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W77735171
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  2. González Moreno, Andrés Santiago (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders . American Psychiatric Association.
    Type: Book DOI: 10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4247665917
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  3. Dinah Murray * (2021). Monotropism: An Interest-Based Account of Autism . In Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders (pp. 2954-2956). Springer International Publishing.
    Type: Book chapter DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-91280-6_102269 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4235509372
    AutiHub · Autistic Scholars Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  4. Uta Frith (1989). Autism and “Theory of Mind” . In Diagnosis and Treatment of Autism (pp. 33-52). Springer US.
    Type: Book chapter DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4899-0882-7_4 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W107605941
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  5. Michael D. Kogan , Catherine J. Vladutiu , Laura A. Schieve , Reem M. Ghandour , Stephen J. Blumberg , Benjamin Zablotsky et al. (2018). The Prevalence of Parent-Reported Autism Spectrum Disorder Among US Children . Pediatrics, 142(6). American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1542/peds.2017-4161 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2902775069
    Crossref OpenAlex
  6. Sara Cruz , Sabela Conde-Pumpido Zubizarreta , Ana Daniela Costa , Rita Araújo , Júlia Martinho , María Tubío Fungueiriño et al. (2025). Is There a Bias Towards Males in the Diagnosis of Autism? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis . Neuropsychology Review, 35(1), 153-176. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s11065-023-09630-2 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4391317798
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  7. Wenn Lawson * (2013). Sensory connection, interest/attention and gamma synchrony in autism or autism, brain connections and preoccupation . Medical Hypotheses, 80(3), 284-288. Elsevier BV.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2012.12.005 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2005576406
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  8. Jinan Zeidan , Éric Fombonne , Julie Scorah , Alaa T. Ibrahim , Maureen S. Durkin , Shekhar Saxena et al. (2022). Global prevalence of autism: A systematic review update . Autism Research, 15(5), 778-790. Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1002/aur.2696 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4214849391
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  9. Danielle Mathersul , Skye McDonald , Jacqueline A. Rushby (2013). Understanding advanced theory of mind and empathy in high-functioning adults with autism spectrum disorder . Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 35(6), 655-668. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2013.809700 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2071130276
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  11. Josephine Shenouda , Emily Barrett , Amy L. Davidow , Kate Sidwell , Cara Lescott , William Halperin et al. (2023). Prevalence and Disparities in the Detection of Autism Without Intellectual Disability . Pediatrics, 151(2). American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1542/peds.2022-056594 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4318065497
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  12. Abigail Holt , Khadija Bounekhla , Christie Welch , Helene Polatajko (2022). “Unheard minds, again and again”: autistic insider perspectives and theory of mind . Disability and Rehabilitation, 44(20), 5887-5897. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2021.1949052 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3177929337
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  14. W Lawson (2013). Autism spectrum conditions: the pathophysiological basis for inattention and the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) . OA Autism, 1(1). Open Access Publishing London.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.13172/2052-7810-1-1-343 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2156225995
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  15. Amy E. Hurley-Hanson , Cristina M. Giannantonio , Amy Jane Griffiths (2020). Autism in the Workplace . Springer International Publishing.
    Type: Book DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-29049-8 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4240974563
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  17. Ewa Pisula , Monika Pudło , Monika Słowińska , Rafał Kawa , Magdalena Strząska , Anna Banasiak et al. (2017). Behavioral and emotional problems in high-functioning girls and boys with autism spectrum disorders: Parents’ reports and adolescents’ self-reports . Autism, 21(6), 738-748. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/1362361316675119 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2558833297
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  18. Joanna L Mussey , Nicole C Ginn , Laura G. Klinger (2017). Are males and females with autism spectrum disorder more similar than we thought? Autism, 21(6), 733-737. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/1362361316682621 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2588314410
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  20. Sarah Khan , Gemma Delgar Farrés , Jaume-Miquel March-Amengual (2026). L’ús de les llengües a la Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya: PDI, PAS i estudiants de grau . Revista de Llengua i Dret, 5(1), 219-244. Escola d'Administració Pública de Catalunya.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.58992/rld.i85.2026.4562 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2605514476
    OpenAlex
  21. Nicky Rogge , Juliette Janssen (2019). The Economic Costs of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(7), 2873-2900. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04014-z OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2938665791
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  23. Eleanor R. Palser , A. Fotopoulou , Elizabeth Pellicano , J.M. Kilner (2018). The link between interoceptive processing and anxiety in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder: Extending adult findings into a developmental sample . Biological Psychology, 136, 13-21. Elsevier BV.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2018.05.003 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2799798705
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  24. Hannah Ebben (2018). The Desire to Recognize the Undesirable: De/Constructing the Autism Epidemic Metaphor and Contagion in Autism as a Discourse . Feminist Formations, 30(1), 141-163. Project MUSE.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1353/ff.2018.0007 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2800675491
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  25. Chandra Lebenhagen (2020). Including Speaking and Nonspeaking Autistic Voice in Research . Autism in Adulthood, 2(2), 128-131. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1089/aut.2019.0002 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2975531104
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  28. (n.d.). Why Everything You Know about Autism is Wrong. Jac Den Houting: AiraBreeze AU V89 B17 16x9 VO1 ND. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1AUdaH-EPM
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  30. Romy Hume , Henry Burgess (2021). “I'm Human After All”: Autism, Trauma, and Affective Empathy . Autism in Adulthood, 3(3), 221-229. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1089/aut.2020.0013 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3112663975
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  31. Michael D. Kogan , Catherine J. Vladutiu , Laura A. Schieve , Reem M. Ghandour , Stephen J. Blumberg , Benjamin Zablotsky et al. (2020). The Prevalence of Parent-Reported Autism Spectrum Disorder Among US Children . In Pediatric Collections: Autism Spectrum Disorder (pp. 78-88). American Academy of Pediatrics.
    Type: Book chapter DOI: 10.1542/9781610024716-part02-ch004 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4240296204
    OpenCitations
  32. (n.d.). Lawson W. The passionate mind: How people with autism learn. In: Lawson W, editor. ‘Autism Taking Over’: Lambert Pubs. Germany: Jessica Kingsley Publishers; 2011
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  33. Wenn Lawson * , Brynn A. Dombroski (2017). Problems with Object Permanence: Rethinking Traditional Beliefs Associated with Poor Theory of Mind in Autism . Journal of Intellectual Disability - Diagnosis and Treatment, 5(1), 1-6. Lifescience Global.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.6000/2292-2598.2017.05.01.1
    Crossref OpenCitations
  35. Louanne Boyd (2024). Sensory Processing in Autism . In Synthesis Lectures on Technology and Health (pp. 27-40). Springer Nature Switzerland.
    Type: Book chapter DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-48843-6_3 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4390482875
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  36. (n.d.). Goodall E. Thriving at School: How Interoception Is Helping Children and Young People Engage in Learning Everyday. Toowoomba, Australia: University of Southern Queensland; 2020
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  37. (n.d.). Porges SW. Neuroception: A Subconscious System for Detecting Threats and Safety. Vol. 24. USA: Zero to Three; 2004. pp. 19-24
    Type: Other
    Crossref