AUTISTIC PERSON CONCEPT AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

Abstract

The history of autism development proves that the explanation of this diagnosis in the scientific world has become more systematic since the middle of the 20th century. In the early stages, many classifications were imprecise and were confused with various mental disorders. In modern scientific approaches, autism is attributed to the group of neurodevelopmental disorders, where clinical, sociopsychological and behavioral characteristics are more precisely defined. Autism has been formed not only as a medical diagnosis in the medical world, but also as a term that includes the individual characteristics of a person in a social and pedagogical context. Such an approach recognizes that individuals with autism have different profiles in the areas of communication and adaptation. At the same time, it highlights the importance of individualized education and rehabilitation programs for individuals with autism and shows that family relationships play a decisive role in this. In this context, the family finds its place not only as a support structure, but also as an active participant in an important therapeutic and developmental process. The presence of this approach in the historical development process currently creates conditions for the family, educational institutions and specialists to achieve more effective results in the integration of individuals with autism into society.