ABSTRACT
This chapter seeks to bring further understandings concerning autistic objects, which were first described in Autism and Childhood Psychosis (Tustin, 1972). Autistic objects are objects which are peculiar to each individual child. They are used obsessively in idiosyncratic ways which handicap mental development. They are mainly used by encapsulated autistic children, although not all autistic children use them. Two clinical illustrations will now be given which exemplify the nature and function of autistic objects. These objects were illustrated in Helen High’s obser vational study of autistic children in Chapter 1.
