ABSTRACT
Bettelheim (1956, 1967) was the source of the “refrigerator mother” theory-the idea that children become autistic as a maladaptive response to a threatening and unloving environment. This idea was later taken up by Kanner, who believed he saw mild autistic features (e.g. detachment and social difficulty) in the parents of the children he treated. Originally, however, Kanner had interpreted these traits as signs of a genetic component to autism (Kanner 1943). This early insight has proved correct (see below), while no evidence has emerged to support the psychogenic explanations of autism. Against psychogenic theories is the fact that cases of children who are mistreated to a horrifying degree and neglected almost entirely show that such a history does not give rise to autism (Clarke & Clarke 1976). For example, Genie-a young girl who was discovered after having spent the first 13 years of her life tied to a chair and left in virtual isolation by her parents-quickly made social ties with those who cared for her after she was rescued (Curtiss 1977).
