Refrigerator Mother Theory

A widely accepted cause of autism that sparked controversy among professionals and parents was the popularity of the “refrigerator mother” theory. A theory that placed blame and guilt on parents, notably mothers of children with autism. Leo Kanner believed that a child’s inability to bond or connect within their environment was a result of limited affection, coldness, and solidarity displayed by the parents. Bettelheim facilitated this theory that children with autism were similar to “prisoners in concentration camps and parents were portrayed as guards” (Zager, Wehmeyer & Simpson, 2012, p. 4) asserting parental power and control. Kanner later rejected his theory and a shift occurred with Rimland’s idea suggesting that autism was a neurodevelopment …show more content…
Single- subject designs allows for the comparison of individual performances across various settings over time. The specific settings and detailed description of participants and data collected promotes for successful replication. Dependent variables represent observable behavior affected by the response of the independent variables. The measurement of this behavior allows for observers to compare previous performances or look for any behavioral patterns. The examiner can actively manipulate the independent variables which must be operationally defined in order to yield reliable measurements. If a pattern of response with the dependent variables during a baseline is established then an intervention to its effect is formulated. The experimental control helps to alleviate threats and increases the external validity when the “design documents three demonstrations of the experimental effect at three different points in time”. The data is collected and graphed to determine differences with the baseline and intervention. The social validity is examined through the independent variables change to the socially important outcomes of the dependent variables. The social validity emphasizes the social importance of acceptable goals that meet clinical needs and is enhanced by the independent