Adaptive Morphing and Coping with Social Threat in Autism: An Autistic Perspective

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Lawson, W. (2020). Adaptive Morphing and Coping with Social Threat in Autism: An Autistic Perspective. Journal of Intellectual Disability - Diagnosis and Treatment, 8(3), 519-526. https://doi.org/10.6000/2292-2598.2020.08.03.29

Publication date: 14 Sep 2020 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

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

Abstract

This paper highlights the role of terminology, such as camouflage and masking, commonly used in autism research. The author suggests researchers question assumptions around language commonly used to check it is fully representative of the autistic position. Being autistic often means being very literal. This literality means it is very important for researchers – particularly non-autistic researchers – to design research questions in a way that will gather accurate information often underlying autistic understanding. Words are powerful tools and lead to beliefs and positions held. Adaptive morphing in autism (currently referred to as camouflage or masking) infers a response, not of deceit, but one that is biological and not necessarily chosen. The author of this paper suggests masking, as a choice to deceive, is quite different from adaptive morphing for safety.

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
38
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
3 / 38 (7.9%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
5 / 61 (8.2%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 5 / 26 (19.2%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 3 / 55 (5.5%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
26 / 61 (42.6%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 20 / 55 (36.4%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
21 / 26 (80.8%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 21 / 61 (34.4%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 17 / 20 (85.0%).
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