ABSTRACT
Chapter 5 described a recent and influential cognitive explanation of the triad of social, communication and imagination impairments found in autism. This theory suggests that autistic people lack a theory of mind, and are not able to attribute independent mental states (such as false beliefs) to themselves and others. As Chapter 5 showed, this theory has been quite successful in explaining the pattern of impaired and preserved functioning in many people with autism. Chapter 6 reviewed some other psychological theories of autism, and looked at some of the major criticisms of the theory of mind approach. In particular, the issue of primacy was discussed at some length. Here, we look again at the question of universality: do all people with autism suffer from “mind-blindness”?
