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CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST TONY Humphreys has defended remarks he made in a controversial article about autism, saying that the disorder is “a theory”.
Humphreys said his suggestion that autism is caused by environmental factors is substantiated by current research.
“When you use the word autism you’re suggesting it’s a fact. Autism is a theory. It is not a fact,” he said on TV3′s Ireland AM this morning.
“I never in all my life have blamed parents. I’ve been absolutely saddened by the response [to the article]. It was not the response in any way which I expected,” he said.
In the article in the Irish Examiner earlier this month, Humphreys suggested that there is a link between Autism Spectrum Disorders and parents not expressing love and affection to their children. The Irish Examiner has since removed the article from its website.
The article was sharply criticised by the Irish Autism Society and other autism groups.
“I wrote the article with good intentions, and the good intention was to give information of the present understanding of autism,” said Humphreys today.
He said that family narratives, community narratives, and the story of each child all influenced diagnoses of autism, and that “all the new research” says environmental factors are the cause.
When asked about why he wouldn’t discuss the article with the parent of an autistic child on air Humphreys said: “I didn’t want to get into an argument with a parent who must feel so hurt that suddenly research suggests that there is no such thing as autism”.
Minister for Health James Reilly said last week that Humphrey’s claim that there was a link between parenting and autism was “utterly outrageous”.
The Psychological Society of Ireland were also critical of the remarks and said that the article was “not supported by the vast body of research“.
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I’m the mum of a recently diagnosed child with aspergers….this man has done nothing to help parents like me, all he has done is cause pain and guilt in making us believe we are somehow to blame. I am glad he was given a chance to clarify his comments in the article he wrote but he has a long way to go to undo the damage he has done.
There are many people and organisations you will be aware of who can support you and your child. No doubt in the future, others will learn from your experience. No need to take personally what Dr Humphries says…
Maggie, be assured you played no part whatsoever in your son’s disorder. That man is simply insane.
@John How do you know that? Is there research that has shown that parental affection (or lack thereof) is an irrelevant factor? I am totally ignorant on the topic; but you seem so sure.
Keith Duffy is on his way around to Humphreys’ house to punch him.
I guess research that shows autism could be detected in children as young as 6 months using brain scans doesnt mean anything in Humphreys universe?
http://singularityhub.com/2012/02/23/brain-scans-detect-autism-in-six-month-olds/
Maybe MRI machines are just theories and the brain is an invention of the media?
That wouldn’t disprove the idea that a large part of the cause of autism is environmental, and he’s got a point about the diagnosis, it’s become so broad that it’s more of an educational label than a specific condition
Blessed with ignorance on the subject of autism I do however know that babies pick up signals from human interaction within the womb. If Tony Humphreys perspective does turn out to be creditable, 6 months is plenty of time.
Tony Humphreys has also claimed that asthma and irritable bowel syndrome are caused by a “lack of parental affection”, ADHD simply “does not exist”, dyslexia is a “result of child sexual abuse” and homosexuality is caused by “absent fathers and overly affectionate mothers”. Humphreys also defended Darina Allen’s husband, Tim, after he was convicted of possessing 93 child porn images in 2003, on the grounds that Allen was “suffering from an addiction”.
I wonder why nobody has openly challenged Humphreys before? His views in relation to asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, ADHD, dyslexia, homosexuality and his defence of Tim Allen are equally as offensive.
If someone had spoken up and openly criticised Humphreys years ago, would anyone have ever given him the opportunity to write such a deeply offensive and hurtful article about autism, and in particular, the parents of autistic children? Would he have appeared on Ireland AM this morning?
There are two opinion pieces written in relation to this controversy which I agree with completely – one written by Kieran Kennedy, from Shine/Irish Progressive Association in Cork, which praises the Irish Examiner for its extensive coverage of disability rights campaigns: http://www.examiner.ie/news/attacking-messenger-does-disabled-community-no-service-183135.html And the other from Victoria White, a mother of an autistic son, who says that people like Tony Humphreys and many psychologists, in general, have an instinctive need to “defend their territory” – most psychologists were trained before autism was very widely recognised, and they have not yet caught up http://www.examiner.ie/features/states-services-must-catch-up-with-what-parents-already-know-184500.html
Nowadays, there is more media coverage of autism and Asperger Syndrome than EVERY other disability combined, and with 1 in every 100 children diagnosed, many people simply want a “piece of the action”. There has been no shortage of professionals and organisations willing to exploit those who are diagnosed with autism – Google “Cassandra Affective Deprivation Disorder” for example, a condition which is usually “suffered” by non-autistic women, who are in a relationship with someone who is diagnosed with or believed to have Asperger Syndrome. Since many parents of children with ASD also have broader autism characteristics themselves, I can draw certain parallels between Tony Humphreys’ theories and the theories of Maxine Aston, the marriage counsellor who came up with the Cassandra syndrome. While one theory is widely attacked by parents and psychologists alike, (and rightly so!) the other theory has been widely promoted by many parent and family organisations and eminent psychologists, such as Tony Attwood.
Autism is still a highly controversial, complex and emotive issue and even many of those who do specialise in the area, and who have openly condemned Tony Humphreys, do not know everything there is to know about autism or autistic people. For all the “awareness” that there is, the debate has not moved on beyond “causes” and “cures”, “therapies” and “treatments” and “epidemics” and whether or not autism exists. It is about time the debate changed.
Best comment all day on this Elaine, well done.
Perspective and equanimity.
Thanks Elaine, about time someone stepped away from the ‘finger pointing’ and looked at the real issue
I am not a qualified psychologist as the other commenters seem to be, but there seems to be a trend in recent scientific research (at least the one that makes it to the mainstream media) away from the paradigm explaining every condition via genetic markers. Personally I think that is a welcome change and parents with children suffering from autism or Asperger’s should welcome any research that could help them treat / manage this condition.
Well said! People write about theories everyday and not all are right or wrong. He has wrote some very helpful articles over the years. He is not suddenly a monster!
Just because something is not fully explained by genetics does not mean that Humphreys assumption that “autism is a theory” has any validity.
As a matter of fact, the researcher, Simon Baron -Cohen, who Humphreys used in his article to support his claim, is actually hypothesizing that autism is due to genetic factors. You can read more about what Baron Cohen calls assortative mating here http://edge.org/3rd_culture/baron-cohen05/baron-cohen05_index.html
There is also a lot of biological research which shows that people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder have structural differences in their brain (e,g, different ratios of grey and white matter than those without ASD), probably arising from development in the womb.
Not to mention the heaps of psychological research which shows the same kind of impairments occuring in the triad of impairments …Impairments in social&emotional, language & communication, and flexibility of thought(imagination), which show a pattern of symptoms that strongly indicate the presence of an underlying disorder.
Basically Humphreys is just making stuff up, without backing up his extraordinary claims without a single reference to peer reviewed research. He’s relying solely on appeals to his own authority as some sort of guru figure. It’s irrational nonsense.
Thought this an interesting piece in the Times recently:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0221/1224312116516.html
@ Niall. He is not putting forward a theory. If anything, he is putting forward a hypothesis. When you do that you don’t make any claims about its validity, you go off and test it to see if you can come up with evidence to support it. What you don’t do is tell parents they’re responsible for their child’s condition because they didn’t love their child or at least express their love enough when you haven’t proven it. I know I’d want to be beyond sure before I’d make that claim.
Comments here – above and below – by some writers suggest that the right to free speech trumps the need to be accurate, and that Humphreys should be let have his say. It’s not that simple, as we all tend to fall for the ‘white coat’ effect: if he or she looks and sounds like an expert, we lean towards giving the person some credence. Where the media have backed up such individuals in the past, in the teeth of scientific evidence, the results have sometimes been devastating; in the case of the MMR vaccine/autism debacle, for instance, it is likely that hundreds have died or will die, and many lives have been devastated, because an ‘expert’ did very bad science. Like it or not, science done well is our best hope and defence (and it is why we paid attention in the end to Einstein and Darwin – contrary to comment above – they did the science properly).
I would say a few doctors who referred patients are currently looking up their insurance cover. Shame on this man as he has brought the profession into question. My heart goes out to the hurt people who must carry on expressing their love by caring for their sons and daughters 24/7. Will he be struck off – I bet not. Will he be asked to write again – I bet yes. Possible boycott of the paper involved is needed.
He’s a psychologist and , you are ?
He has put forward a theory and once again if it doesn’t fit in with the thinking of the logical , he must be wrong . I’m glad Einstein , Darwin and many others didn’t listen to you .
There have been so many suggestions in the past that the general use of the word authisim as an umbrella statement for differing disorders was unacceptable and personally as the father of a child with dyspraxia I can totally understand what he is suggesting . The labels that are put on children are unfortunate to say the least . I hear you say , well then why did I use that label for my own daughter . Well the answer lies with the bureaucrats at the department of education . I have to have a label to get her the educational resources she needs .
There is fair example of many children in this country and around the world who are diagnosed with ADHD for example as an excuse for bad behaviour and bad parenting .
Have you ever heard of the ” the alphabet kids ” ? This is a term used by certain members of society to claim a domecelicery careers allowance fraudulently from the state . They are requested by social welfare to bring the child for assessment for a label to the local Health centre to be approved for the hand out . Before they attend the appointment the kid is given a packet of skittles and a can of red bull or other products high in sugars . This insures the child acts hyper in the assessment and the monthly payment is handed out .
How many times have y heard the mother of a child who constantly finds himself in trouble with the Garda , use the excuse that he has ADHD .
Let’s wait and see what’s proven in the years to come and maybe learn from the theories put forward
@niallateshow, you I fear are just trying to stir things for your radio show, that is what I hope because if you really believe what you have posted , then I condemn you. You say you have a child that suffers fron dyspraxia, so do I but he is also diagnosed as Auspergers, I was going to say unfortunately but that would not reflect the full story. Yes it is a challenge and I would definitely say it was disconcerting when the diagnosis was made, but instead of going into denial, as reading between the lines you have, I accepted and endeavoured to deal with the situation and seek the help required. Being the third of our four kids we realised from an early age that there was something different. The poor eye contact, lack of speech fratting when in company of strangers, I could go on but i know those that have a child with an ASD will recognise these traits.
We pushed for all the services we could get and eventually got the resources required and the improvements were obvious from an early stage, we learned that we had to change the way we communicated and once that was done the difference was unbelievable.
Yes, we do have to approach the way we parent him different from our other children, but guess what , understanding that made the whole experience worthwhile.
As we were told when we were confronted with this diagnosis, some children need academic Teaching and others ( ASD ) require social teaching and this I can now confirm to be the case.
So please do not make such inane comments for publicity, and if that is not why you have posted but believe your Darwin / Einstein example remember they were the ones vilified just as in the last century the advocates of ASD wre also vilified.
Not this thick again… and where are the governments actions in revoking his license to work due to basing his theory on falsified research? Action needs to be taken on this plonk, his type is what we should be making an example of(in a bad way).
Not sure the government has any role in issuing licenses to practising psychologists, Karl. Most professions are self-regulating. If you have a complaint about a practitioner, you can raise it with the profession’s governing body…
Psychologists are registered and regulated – see http://www.clinicalpsychology.ie/about/psych.html. Anyone can claim to be a psychotherapist, but they cannot claim to be a psychologist unless they have the qualifications.
I’m running a book on how long it takes Leigh Walsh to post a comment calling HUMPHREYS a ‘sociopath’….who wants in?
This loon just keeps on digging.
Is this guy for real my god.
I agree with him and think there is something in this. Look at people’s social skills- a lot ot it comes back to the interaction people had as a kid with their parents, and how much emotional intelligence was passed on, nurtured, encouraged and developed in them, etc. It’s completely possible that a young child shuts down and locks itself into its own mind if they perceive on some level they are not being listened to or interacted with, and obviously if this triggers the part of the brain in question in a negative way, well who’s to say it doesn’t loop?
So what about the other conditions Lisa? Did they all happen because their mammys didn’t half their hands or hug them? As an uncle to a a little boy whom suffers from autism, i know first hand what this guy says..is in fact bullshit
No. You are wrong.
There has been research done on children who have been neglected and whose linguistic and social skills have been disrupted as a result. We know what they look like and what the pattern of their difficulties are.
There has also been research done on autistic children and diagnostic pattern of the triad of impairments which are Impairments in social&emotional, language & communication, and flexibility of thought(imagination),.
Guess what?
Children who have suffered neglect display a different profile to those who have autism. It’s not the same thing.
Yours (and Tony’s) hypothesize has been falsified a long time ago, and there is a massive amount of peer reviewed psychological and biological research which backs this up. A trip to scholar.google.com will provide you hundreds upon hundreds of journal articles to support this.
Of course it is up to you. You can believe decades of sound science, or you can believe a man who is making claims without any evidence and based in pseudoscientific thought.
youve never been around a person on the autistic spectrum have you?? its always been there. and all the people i know that have kids on the spectrum are amazing loving parents. if you look into research and statistics alot of it is made up and falsified. he,s basing his thoughts on alot of made up shite. no professionalism at all. he should be struck off. tv3 shouldnt of gave him 2 seconds airtime. bet he has a book coming out soon…. and lisa you really should get an idea of a subject before you start spouting sh1te about it
Well put Ruadhri
Really? a Theory? the triad of impairments that leads to the diagnosis of autistic Spectrum is a theory?
Not only am I a mom of a child on the spectrum I actually work daily with children on the spectrum and have done for years now and I have NEVER seen a child diagnosed anywhere on the Autistic Spectrum that Did NOT in fact have the difficulties that are found in the Triad that is the criteria for diagnosis… but what i do see year after year are children that are on the path to diagnosis and it does NOT come quickly enough..
we do not need people like this, under the disguise of “research”, helping raise the Awareness that is so needed. if nothing he adds to the continuing prejudices… If you have a child on the Spectrum you know Exactly what i mean and have heard them all… what we actually need are the FACTS made AWARE to more of the general public, and more REAL research…. The National autistic Society is a good place to start… I’d love to know their opinion of Autism as a “theory”!!!
Well said Bobbi
The guy needs help.
Are you offering him funding ;-)
Autism is caused by a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors. The recent rises in the incidences of both autism and ADHD are largely due to greater awareness of the conditions, broadening diagnostic criteria and sociological factors.
I have Asperger’s syndrome. My own research convinces me that much of the increase is also due to pre-natal exposure to environmental chemicals which disrupt GABA(A) receptor functioning. These include insecticides, phthalates ans bisphenol A. However, I believe folic acid is the main culprtit. More here:
Hey Willy that thumb down should be up, the buttons are tiny on iPhone!
Is he now trying to suggest that autism does not exist at all, as it is “a theory” rather than “a fact”? Usually when people start throwing around these words they have misunderstood them, and are claiming that the “theory” is inaccurate or worthless.
Of course, autism is neither theory nor fact, it is just a description of a range of symptoms. If we’re being really generous to this fella we might assume that he is trying to say that theories concerning the development of autism are incomplete or otherwise deficient, and in that he would undoubtedly be correct, but I don’t see how he got from there to claiming that it is caused by a lack of parental love.
No peer reviewed work to support Humpreys. In other words he has no evidence to support his theory.
A theory is only that. Without an idea in the first place you don’t get results to be able to weigh up. Give the guy a break. The hostility shown here is the stuff of gombeen land.
Lisa,
I neither attacked Dr. Humphreys nor did I show any hostility towards him.
I merely pointed out that there is no peer reviewed work to support his theory. In academic terms, his theory about autism holds as much weight as my theory about the moon being made of cheese.
Lisa you are in gombeen land.
Not sure Dr Humphries was offering any ground-breaking research that would require peer review. If he was, where’s the evidence it wasn’t peer reviewed?
@Lisa, you defy belief, please only comment when you have the experience to do so, what are your credentials to make your points???
I’d really love to know how many of the people who comment on this item actually have experience of living or working with children with autism. And before someone asks, I have worked with autistic children from right across the spectrum and their parents, for many years. I am also well-qualified and well-read on the matter. I can assure any of the parents who are concerned that their rearing has in some way contributed to their child’s autism, as Tony Humphreys asserts, that such opinions are in the minority among those who study autism.
My assertion is supported widely in all but fringe literature on the disorder.
There are certainly children who, due to emotional and physical abuse, can manifest some or all of the triad of impairments that are “indicative” of autism in a child.
However to say that anything other than a miniscule amount of children are misdiagnosed, when in fact they are suffering from emotional or psychiatric disturbance, is ridiculous.
Autism is not a disorder caused by parenting, simple as that. Another myth that needs to be exploded is the one that the majority of children diagnosed with ADHD are in fact just “bold”. I have also extensive experience in dealing with these children and have always seen these children’s character transformed by medication. Medication helps these children manifest their true character, invariably a gentle one, that previously has been overpowered by urges and behaviours beyond their control.
While these are my opinions, I would submit that while my opinions are based on close study of these children on a daily basis for years,and interaction with children and their parents, Dr. Humphrey’s opinions are not. I await correction on this point.
Being a parent of a child with autism is difficult enough without the shadow of guilt being cast on one. The vast majority of parents of autistic children that I know are normal, everyday parents who have children with extraordinary needs.
As a parent of a child with Auspergers, and one with ADHD I can only say I concur 100% with your points, and I appreciate the support. Thank you
Media and public attention is the oxygen idiots like him need to survive, TV3 should have known better.
IBTG
In Before The Gravity!
Just in case my internet humour is not initially grasped: Gravity is a theory.
I thought they had disproved Gravity…….isn’t it now called ‘Intelligent Falling’ ?
Welcome to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster!
Love it Arch.
Praise Be to His Noodly Appendages
That must be why it’s called “Newton’s Universal Law of Gravity”.
That’s heavy man!
We should starve this man of the oxygen of publicity. I believe in the freedom of speech but this guy’s views are beyond the pale. Think it may be a case of psychologist heal thyself!
This bloke’s view beggars belief, he’s obviously not living in the real world if he thinks Autism is a theory and that it’s down, at least in part, to some parents not expressing enough love to their children.
Just because some research is carried out doesn’t mean the results, whatever they are, are correct. This particular research must have been carried out by a bunch of half wits that didn’t understand what they were researching. Correlation does not always mean Causation.
This Humphreys bloke needs to keep his mouth firmly shut in future, he’s a misguided fool.
Severe Autism or Asperger’s is most definitely genetically based (as opposed to being a genetic ‘disorder’) whereas mild cases are, for example in a child, often mistaken for precociousness or an acute and innate sense of individuality. Generalisations and labelling are counter-productive when each case is so obviously unique to the individual.
Absolutely, Seb, but he’s adding to the argument. Sadly anyone who is just having a go at Humphreys just because they don’t agree with him need to get their own theories out in front of themselves first. Simply saying he’s wrong without detailing why is no better than his presenting a theory, even when unfounded.
I am amused to see Lisa agreeing with Seb AND Humphreys at the same time. Don’t you see, Lisa, Humphreys is saying Seb is wrong, that there is NO such thing as “severe autism”, that nothing labelled autism is genetically based!
Are people taking “theory” to mean “unproven”? Because that’s a wee bit daft. Some theories are unproven, some are disproved and discarded and some have been proved.
Tony Humphreys seems to be conflating the concepts of “theories” and “unproven theories”.
Seems a bit odd for a man of some apparent learning.
Why is the man not allowed to write what he wants? I don’t agree with what he has said, nor do I agree with doctors labelling children with all these different disabilities. I do find it hard to understand why people must abuse and criticise somebody they don’t agree with. If any of us want to speak our minds, surely we have that right? If you think he is wrong that’s fine but why the attack on the man? He referenced a book on a topic of great interest and pain for some people, is that so bad? The way people are talking above seems a bit over the top for me. We all don’t have to agree on a topic but respect for each other should never be lost!
Sadly this is not the way it works in Journal threads, Niall…
Because he is destroying all the work already done, have you experienced this?
Bit over the top Michael. How is someone expressing an opinion, particularly an out-dated and discredited one, destroying anything except his own reputation?
@ michael cuthbert, because we have to deal with this day in and day out, and it only puts confusion across on the issue, if you lived withit you’d know
You’re not alone Michael. 1 in 100…
Oh please.
Saying someone is factually wrong is not an attack on someone.
Humphreys has the right to say whatever stupid thoughts cross his mind, but he and his supporters have to accept that people will call you out on that stupidity.
I agree with Humphreys.But not only is it a theory it is a redundant theory that too many so called ‘medical professionals’ use because they couldn’t be bothered to make a decent effort.
Here Here Tony Humpfreys.
Green thumbed you by accident
John o’neill well said thank you ….a parent of an autistic child who if was rid of the autism tomorrow i would miss that child because my life is richer since my daughter came along we adore her so much
with you all the way Dee
Adhd equals excuse for a bold child with bad parents. Bold child disorder
That is not true. ADHD is a different kettle of fish from a bold child.
Well said Lisa. The hysterical baying mob are doing themselves no favours.
the msn is a muppet!
psst, animal ur also a muppet :-)
It certainly is Elaine. How about dignity, respect, self-determination, inclusiveness and listening. Rather than pathologising everything, we could learn to embrace difference. Apparently bereavement is on the next list of things to get a psychiatric diagnosis…
He can not defend the indefensible !!!
Dr humpries being a doctor should do his research before he guesses on autism. Its like someone going on tv saying smoking is good for you the mn has made a stupid comment and is enjoying the uproar…. Parents ignore this comment as a mother of an autisic child we know they are smothered wit love and thats all that matters not some doctor looking for a headline
This shows the folly of assuming that experts in treatment know anything about the causes of the conditions they study – quite a lot of them do, but many do not.
The best current evidence on autism aetiology is that there is a big genetic component, some evidence that various problems in pregnancy and at delivery may increase risk, and very limited data suggesting a role for environmental pollutants. There’s no evidence that parenting style matters at all in causing autism. It matters in lots of other ways of course, but not as a cause of autism.
This guy is trying to help and is obviously close to the research so why are people so upset? Why remove his article and branding him in the negative?
Of course parents will feel guilty and defensive but when a problem is there it has to be understood before it can be treated and the parents are not the victims, the children with the disorders are so forget the guilt and try and understand the problem.
People reacted crazy and irrational when they were told the earth wasn’t flat at all but the scientists of the day knew different as would this guy I presume.
Humphreys quoted two researchers in his original article. Both have disagreed with his interpretations. Baron-Cohen is actively researching genetic links. Timini writes explicitly in his book that there are people diagnosed as autistic who have biological and/or generic disorders.
Re “flat earth”, that was discovered at the time of the Ancient Greeks, and no, they didn’t act crazy. And Humphreys article is like someone citing NASA to supposedly prove the world is flat.
As far as I know his is not a Clinical Psychologist. Is he registered with the PSI? Has he done the diploma in professional practice? I thought he went by consultant psychologist (by the way I’m a consultant psychologist and so is my dog). I don’t think there is any regulation governing who can call themselves terms like Clinical Psychologist.
This mans comments are a disgrace. What he suggested was just beyond belief! Next of all he’ll tell us there’s a ‘cure’ a clown.
@peter, are you serious about your comment??? I Think you are just trolling with remark.
Fair play michael thank you
Christine
Will you stop givin this prat airtime if you want to give me a ring I can discuss how to change a politician into a humanoid
have your say