PSYCHOLOGICAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCED BY INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Abstract

Professionals in the field of special education have indicated that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) learn very differently from individuals who do not have ASD.  Past studies have attempted to identify a specific psychological cause for ASD that could explain the learning processes that are associated with ASD. These research studies have concentrated on three theories: theory of mind, weak central coherence and executive function that target the learning processes of ASD. These theories have been written in research papers and attempt to account for the fact that individuals with ASD organise their thought processes differently from typically developing individuals on certain measures.