ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a revised version of a paper previously published in the International Review of Psycho-Analysis. It seeks to study a phenomenon which certain autistic children have called 'shapes'. The nature and function of these 'shapes' is investigated, and also the part they play in autistic pathology. The chapter shows how difficult it is to cross the threshold into this world. This latter phenomenon was described in a paper Autistic States in Children. The function of autistic shapes as well as distracting the child's attention away from the 'not-me' outside world, the per-severative recurrence of self-induced, familiar 'shapes' is important in calming autistic children after an explosion of tantrum or ecstasy. Autistic Objects' Autistic 'objects' also arise from self-induced bodily sensations. Like autistic 'shapes' they arise from auto-sensuous activities. Autistic objects and autistic shapes are not merely psychological curiosities. They are barriers to more normal functioning.
