Unit 4
Social Psychology and Personality
Attribution, group influence, relationships, and personality theories.
Social Attribution
Fundamental attribution error
Calling a student 'lazy' or 'dramatic' blames character instead of situation, the exact error behind misreading executive dysfunction and sensory overload.
Group Influence
Conformity (Asch)
Pressure to conform is one driver of masking. Going along with the group protects you socially but drains you.
Interpersonal Relations
In-group / out-group bias
Autistic people are often placed in the out-group, which contributes to loneliness even when they deeply want connection.
Interpersonal Relations
Mere-exposure effect
Familiarity breeds liking, which can help explain why autistic people may form strong attachments to familiar people, routines, and interests.
Interpersonal Relations
Passionate vs. companionate love
Limerence looks like intense passionate love; autistic relationships often thrive on clear, steady companionate love.
Psychodynamic Theories
Defense mechanisms
Projection, rationalization, and others show up in discussions of manipulative personality traits.
Humanistic Theories
Unconditional positive regard
Rogers' idea is basically the 'What Helps' advice on this site: answer patiently, without sighing, and accept the person underneath the behavior.
Trait & Social-Cognitive Theories
Big Five & locus of control
Dark Triad traits are often confused with autism, but they differ on traits like agreeableness and intent. Repeated failure without support can also push someone toward an external locus of control.
These connections are study aids, not medical advice. Some ideas (like the excitation/inhibition theory) are still being researched.