Frances Tustin (1913-1994) was one of the first professionally trained child psychotherapists in Britain. Although internationally recognised for her pioneering therapeutic work with autistic children, her approach is considered by some to be controversial, as her psychogenic view of childhood autism challenged the belief that it is biological and genetic. Autistic States in Children is widely regarded as a vitally important work for understanding the causes of autism in young children.
Key Features
- Vivid descriptions of clinical encounters with autistic children.
- Arguments that autistic states are self-protective.
- Observational studies highlighting the rigid and ritualistic interaction of autistic children with objects.
- Distinctions between 'encapsulated' and 'entangled' autistic groups.
- Influence on psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, and families of autistic children.
Additional Information
This Routledge Classics edition includes a new Foreword by Maria Rhode. Tustin noted that autistic children's interaction with physical objects, such as keys, toy cars, or other play items, had a quality far removed from typical fantasy play. Such objects are not used for their intended purpose but rather in sensation-dominated ways that interfere with mental development.
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