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Charlie has just received a diagnosis of autism - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 12 - 2017 - Paper 2
Question 12
Charlie has just received a diagnosis of autism. (a) Describe the features of autism. (b) There are several explanations for autism. One is the biological explanat... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Charlie has just received a diagnosis of autism - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 12 - 2017 - Paper 2
Step 1
Describe the features of autism.
Answer
Autism is characterized by a range of features, typically including difficulties in social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. Individuals may struggle with understanding social cues, making eye contact, or maintaining conversations. Additionally, many individuals with autism exhibit a strong preference for routines and may experience distress when these routines are disrupted. Sensory sensitivities are also common, meaning individuals might react strongly to sensory input such as sounds, lights, or textures.
Step 2
Explain one weakness of one biological explanation of autism.
Answer
One weakness of the biological explanation for autism is that it may overlook the role of environmental factors. While genetic predispositions and neurological factors are certainly significant, focusing solely on biology can ignore how social and cultural contexts may contribute to the development of autistic traits. For instance, two children with similar genetic backgrounds may exhibit different levels of autism symptoms based on the support and environment they grow up in, suggesting that biological explanations alone are insufficient to fully understand autism.