ABSTRACT
Psychology offers explanations for how people feel, think and relate to the world. Theories around psychological functioning are often presented as bridging a gap between the neurodevelopmental and behavioural. These theories often try to identify the key psychological processes and mechanisms that might be the result of complex influences in which the biological and psychological interact with one another for autistic people. There are therefore a number of theoretical hypotheses that have been put forward. Meanwhile, developmental and psychological knowledge and understanding can offer broad and holistic perspectives that can inform the processes of teaching and learning by providing insights into how autistic people learn, and present ways in which researchers and practitioners can conceptualise and work with the strengths and challenges that people on the autism spectrum have. They can provide insights into the role of emotional, motivational and cognitive factors in development. As later chapters will illustrate, knowledge and understanding that have emerged from different branches of psychology can act as a resource for curriculum and pedagogic thinking, decision-making and practices.
