Template to Perpetrate

Abstract

IntroductionFor the past two decades, researchers have been using various approaches to investigate the relationship, if any, between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and violence. The need to clarify that relationship was reinforced by the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012 by an individual diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. The purpose of this article is (1) to provide an updated review of the literature on the association between ASD and violence, and (2) to examine implications for treating, and for preventing violence by, individuals with ASD.MethodA review of all published literature regarding ASD and violence from 1943 to 2014 was conducted using electronic and paper searches.ResultsAlthough some case reports have suggested an increased violence risk in individuals with ASD compared to the general population, prevalence studies have provided no conclusive evidence to support this suggestion. Among individuals with ASD, however, generative (e.g., comorbid psychopathology, social-cognition deficits, emotion-regulation problems) and associational (e.g., younger age, Asperger’s syndrome diagnosis, repetitive behavior) risk factors have been identified or proposed for violent behavior.ConclusionsWhile no conclusive evidence indicates that individuals with ASD are more violent than those without ASD, specific generative and associational risk factors may increase violence risk among individuals with ASD. Further research would help to clarify or confirm these findings, suggest potential directions for evaluation, treatment, and prevention, and potentially provide compelling empirical support for forensic testimony regarding defendants with ASD charged with violent crimes.

Autism spectrum disorder and violence: Threat assessment issues.

“…Threat assessment professionals and threat management teams functioning in organizational settings should be aware of ASD as it relates to violence risk for three primary reasons: (a) Public misperceptions of a direct link between ASD and violence: The occurrence of some sensational mass murders has been accompanied by media reports contributing to the public's misperception of a clear causal link between autism and violence (Allely et al, 2017;Ghaziuddin, 2013;Im, 2016;Wachtel & Shorter, 2013). The young perpetrators of the mass murders at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, Isla Vista-Santa Barbara in 2014, and at Umpqua Community College in Oregon in 2015, have all been described as either having autism diagnoses or characteristics associated with ASD (Solomon, 2015).…”

“…Concern is amplified as well by heightened anxiety regarding mass murder in general. (c) Understanding comorbidity issues in risk assessments, and diagnostic complexities in general: Comorbidity is likely a factor when individuals with autism commit violent or criminal acts (Im, 2016;Newman & Ghaziuddin, 2008;Wachtel & Shorter, 2013). However, there is still much to learn.…”

“…Widely understood is that the cognitive deficits of individuals with ASD create the difficulties they have in understanding what others are thinking or feeling, and cause them significant problems with social interactions. These deficits, and the unusual interests and beliefs of ASD individuals can lead to their being misdiagnosed as schizophrenic, or schizoid, especially those who have an intellectual disability (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; Ghaziuddin, 2013;Im, 2016). The DSM-5 describes the interpersonal difficulties of even higher functioning adults with ASD: "Adults who have developed compensation strategies for some social challenges still struggle in novel or unsupported situations and suffer from the effort and anxiety of consciously calculating what is socially intuitive for most individuals" (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 53).…”

“…Researchers have investigated the possible relationship between autism and violence for the past two decades, an interest that has accelerated in the last few years (Im, 2016). Methodological problems are quite apparent in the extant research, and widely acknowledged among investigators.…”

“…Small or biased samples and case studies, for example, often do not represent the general population. Methods for how ASD is diagnosed are inconsistent (Allely, Minnis, Thompson, Wilson, & Gillberg, 2014;Im, 2016;King & Murphy, 2014). Such problems with sample selection, measurement, and definitions surrounding independent and dependent variables are not limited to ASD research, of course, but do mean that any research findings need to be carefully and cautiously interpreted.…”