ABSTRACT
This chapter concerns the autistic condition and in particular the so-called camouflage effect. In contrast to people who receive diagnoses during childhood, some individuals are identified late in life and may fly under the diagnostic radar for many years, in part because of learned strategies to hide social-relational difficulties. Because of reduced environmental support and the pressure to adapt to neurotypical social communication, people with ASD may develop dysfunctional coping strategies in the face of developmentally appropriate coping. One such coping strategy is to be able to “camouflage” difficulties during social situations. Although camouflage has often been described as a major characteristic of girls with autism, it has received surprisingly little systematic scientific investigation. This chapter presents the testimony of Anna, an autistic girl who recounts her experience of camouflage first and autistic identity awareness later. The chapter concludes with a discussion from a Gestalt perspective of therapeutic work.
