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Attachment and Autism Spectrum Conditions: Exploring Mary Main’s Coding Notes

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Coughlan, BA 
Marshall-Andon, Tess 
Anderson, Julie 
Reijman, Sophie 

Abstract

Distinguishing autism spectrum behaviours from behaviours relating to disorganised attachment can be challenging. There is, for instance, a notable overlap between both conditions in terms of behaviours deemed stereotypical. In addition, there are also similarities regarding some atypical social overtures. Responding to this overlap has been the subject for much debate in the literature. Disorganised attachment was first introduced and conceptualised by the attachment researcher, Mary Main. Main is considered the leading authority on coding this phenomenon. During the course of archival research, we obtained Main’s notes on coding attachment in a group of fifteen children with autism spectrum conditions (hereafter ASC). Drawing on these texts, this paper explores Main’s reasoning when making distinctions between ASC and attachment at the behavioural level. Our approach is informed by Chang’s (2017) argument for the potential of “history as complementary science. Analysis indicate that, for Main, frequency and timing was an important differential factor when attributing a behaviour to either ASC or the child’s attachment pattern.

Description

Keywords

Ainsworth Strange Situation Procedure, attachment, autism, developmental psychology, differential diagnosis

Journal Title

Developmental Child Welfare

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2516-1032
2516-1040

Volume Title

1

Publisher

Sage
Sponsorship
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (via University of Oxford) (Barry Coughlan)
Wellcome Trust (103343/Z/13/A)
The authors wish to thank the Wellcome Trust [Grant WT103343MA] and the NIHR School of Primary Care Research [RG94577]