Autism as Context Blindness

by Peter Vermeulen

Overview

This book is a game changer in the way we view and support individuals with autism spectrum disorders … Brenda Smith Myles, PhD, Special Textbook Features, Learner Objectives - List of learner objectives at the beginning of each chapter serve as a preview of the chapter's content. The learner objectives also highlight information that readers are expected to understand and be able to explain after reading the chapter. Chapter Review Questions - Questions at the end of each chapter allow readers to check their understanding of and ability to explain the information discussed. The review questions may also be used as a study guide when preparing for tests and/or exams that may be administered in class. Chapter Review Answers - Answers to chapter review questions are presented in the Appendix for easy confirmation of the reader's own answers. Glossary - An alphabetical listing of vocabulary terms in gray, bold text within individual chapters offers a quick reference for review.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781937473457
Publisher:	Autism Asperger Publishing Company
Publication date:	01/28/2013
Pages:	471
Product dimensions:	6.06(w) x 9.04(h) x 1.07(d)

Table of Contents

Foreword 1

Preface 3

Overview of Textbook Features 9

Introduction 11

Endnotes 24

Chapter 1 Context 25

Learner Objectives 26

What Is Context? 27

History of the Term Context 28

Where Does Context Begin and Where Does It End? 31

External and Internal Context 33

Significant and Incidental Context 37

Summary 38

Endnotes 39

Chapter Review Questions 41

Chapter 2 Context in the Brain 43

Learner Objectives 44

Perception: Two Misunderstandings 45

The Brain: More of a Director Than an Observer 48

First the Forest, Then the Trees 54

Detail Blindness 56

Change Blindness 58

The Brain as a Symphonic Orchestra 62

Context Sensitivity and Networking in the Brain 67

The Autistic Brain: Little Top-Down Control Based on Context 73

Context and Mirror Neurons 74

Context and Sensory Differences 76

Summary 78

Endnotes 79

Chapter Review Questions 83

Chapter 3 Context in Perception 85

Learner Objectives 86

Context Guides Perception 87

Context Creates Expectations 91

Context Contributes to Quick Recognition 95

Context Focuses Our Attention 100

Context Clarifies What Is Unclear 108

Context Blindness: A Different View of the World 114

Summary 121

Endnotes 123

Chapter Review Questions 127

Chapter 4 Context in Social Interaction 129

Learner Objectives 130

Context and Understanding Human Behavior 131

Context and Facial Expressions 135

Context and Recognition of Emotions 140

Context and Attention to Mental States 48

Context and Ability to Empathize (Theory of Mind) 150

Context and Socially Appropriate Behavior 158

Context and Social Problem-Solving Ability 166

Context, Systemizing, and Empathizing 168

Summary 174

Endnotes 175

Chapter Review Questions 182

Chapter 5 Context in Communication 183

Learner Objectives 184

Context and Sound Recognition in Speech 187

Context and Word Recognition 191

Context and Understanding of Words 195

Context and the Ambiguity of Words 199

Context and the Vagueness of Words 207

Context and Concrete vs. Abstract Words 214

Context and the Understanding of Sentences 215

Context and Understanding the World Behind the Words 220

Context Blindness and Literal Understanding of Language 226

Context and Pragmatics in Communication 232

Context and Nonlinguistic Communication 240

Summary 242

Endnotes 243

Chapter Review Questions 251

Chapter 6 Context in Knowledge 253

Learner Objectives 254

Concepts: Criteria, Prototypes, and Examples 258

All Dogs and Bikes: Being Unable to Categorize? 263

Context and Atypical Examples 268

How Do You Categorize Things You Have Never Seen? 269

Changing Categories 270

Context, Concrete and Abstract Categories 272

Context and the Criteria We Use to Categorize 278

Concepts as Chameleons 281

Context and Memory 284

Context Blindness and Resistance to Change 288

Context Activates Concepts 292

Contexts and Scripts 297

Context and Intelligence 299

Summary 308

Endnotes 309

Chapter Review Questions 314

Chapter 7 Autism as Context Blindness: The Theory 315

Learner Objectives 316

Context Blindness and Central Coherence 317

Are People With Autism Detail Thinkers? 319

Central Coherence at Lower and Higher Levels 325

Context Blindness: The Definition 328

Context Blindness and the Social Cognitive Theories About Autism 335

Context Blindness and Executive Functions 336

Context Blindness: A Subcognitive Problem 339

Context Blindness: A Good Theory? 341

Summary 351

Endnotes 353

Chapter Review Questions 359

Chapter 8 Autism as Context Blindness: Applied 361

Learner Objectives 362

Looking at Autism in an Autistic Way: Context Blindness in People Without Autism 363

Diagnostics and Context Blindness 365

Can Context Sensitivity Be Learned? 368

Pushing the Context Button 372

Highlighting the Context 374

Context Clarification: Concrete Communication 377

Contextual Refraining 379

"Braille" for Context Blindness 382

Contextualized Skills Training 384

Training Situations, Not Just Skills 386

The Need for an Autism-Friendly Environment 390

Context Blindness in Context 391

Summary 392

Endnotes 393

Chapter Review Questions 394

References 395

Index 435

Appendix A Chapter Review Answers 445

Appendix B Glossary 465