Autistic States in Children

Frances Tustin (1913-1994) was one of the first professionally trained child psychotherapists in Britain.Although internationally recognised for her pioneering therapeutic work with autistic children, her approach is considered by some to be controversial, as her psychogenic view of childhood autism challenged the belief that it is biological and genetic.Autistic States in Children is widely regarded as a vitally important work for understanding the causes of autism in young children.Vividly describing her clinical encounters with autistic children, Tustin argued that autistic states were above all self-protective ones.In her observational studies, she noted how autistic children's interaction with physical objects, such as keys, toy cars, or other play items, had a rigid and ritualistic quality, far removed from the typical kind of fantasy play seen in other children.Such objects are not used by autistic children for their intended purpose, Tustin argued, but rather in sensation-domin