TY - JOUR
T1 - Commentary
T2 - ‘Camouflaging’ in autistic people – reflection on Fombonne (2020)
AU - Lai, Meng Chuan
AU - Hull, Laura
AU - Mandy, William
AU - Chakrabarti, Bhismadev
AU - Nordahl, Christine Wu
AU - Lombardo, Michael V.
AU - Ameis, Stephanie H.
AU - Szatmari, Peter
AU - Baron-Cohen, Simon
AU - Happé, Francesca
AU - Livingston, Lucy Anne
PY - 2021/8
Y1 - 2021/8
N2 - Fombonne’s (2020) editorial is a thought-provoking appraisal of the literature on ‘camouflaging’, whereby some autistic people mask or compensate for their autistic characteristics as an attempt to fit in and to cope with disabilities under neurotypical social norms. Fombonne (2020) highlights three issues of contention: (a) construct validity and measurement of camouflaging; (b) camouflaging as a reason for late autism diagnosis in adolescence/adulthood; and (c) camouflaging as a feature of the ‘female autism phenotype’. Here, we argue that (a) establishing construct validity and measurement of different aspects of camouflaging is warranted; (b) subjective experiences are important for the differential diagnosis of autism in adolescence/adulthood; and (c) camouflaging is not necessarily a feature of autism in female individuals – nevertheless, taking into account sex and gender influences in development is crucial to understand behavioural manifestations of autism. Future research and clinical directions should involve clarification of associated constructs and measurements, demography, mechanisms, impact (including harms and benefits) and tailored support.
AB - Fombonne’s (2020) editorial is a thought-provoking appraisal of the literature on ‘camouflaging’, whereby some autistic people mask or compensate for their autistic characteristics as an attempt to fit in and to cope with disabilities under neurotypical social norms. Fombonne (2020) highlights three issues of contention: (a) construct validity and measurement of camouflaging; (b) camouflaging as a reason for late autism diagnosis in adolescence/adulthood; and (c) camouflaging as a feature of the ‘female autism phenotype’. Here, we argue that (a) establishing construct validity and measurement of different aspects of camouflaging is warranted; (b) subjective experiences are important for the differential diagnosis of autism in adolescence/adulthood; and (c) camouflaging is not necessarily a feature of autism in female individuals – nevertheless, taking into account sex and gender influences in development is crucial to understand behavioural manifestations of autism. Future research and clinical directions should involve clarification of associated constructs and measurements, demography, mechanisms, impact (including harms and benefits) and tailored support.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85096974450&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/jcpp.13344
DO - 10.1111/jcpp.13344
M3 - Comment/debate
AN - SCOPUS:85096974450
SN - 0021-9630
JO - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines
JF - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines
ER -