Todorova, G. K. , Mcbean Hatton, R. E., Sadique, S. and Pollick, F. (2023) The world is nuanced but pixelated: autistic individuals’ perspective on HIPPEA. Autism, (doi: 10.1177/13623613231176714) (PMID:37294012) (Early Online Publication)
![[img]](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/style/images/fileicons/text.png) |
Text
298135.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. 213kB |
Abstract
Little attention has been given to the voice of autistic individuals during the development of theories that are trying to explain the condition. This can often make individuals feel that they have to fit into the theory’s definition, rather than it fitting into their experience. We aimed to understand to what extent the HIPPEA (High, Inflexible Precision of Prediction Errors in Autism) theory resonates with the lived experiences of autistic individuals. We conducted 21 questionnaires and 8 follow-up interviews and used a hybrid (deductive and inductive) approach to analyse the data. Based on the participants’ views, HIPPEA provides an explanation for many of the lived experiences of autistic individuals. However, refinement is needed with respect to interpersonal interactions, emotional processing and individuals’ motivation to engage with their environment despite challenges with the way the world is organised. Furthermore, more details are needed for the theory to accurately allow us to understand autism. Lay Abstract: Autism is a condition comprised of difficulties in social and communication contexts, sensory sensitivities as well as restrictive and repetitive behaviours. Many theories have tried to explain all the symptoms and behaviours associated with autism. We focus on one recent theory – High, Inflexible Precision of Prediction Errors in Autism (HIPPEA). We aim to understand how much this theory fits the experiences of autistic individuals. We collected data through 21 online questionnaires and 8 follow-up interviews. One of our participants was a parent of an autistic child, and the remaining were adults who reported a diagnosis of autism. We analysed the data by thinking about how it fitted with what we already knew and by looking for new insights which came up. Our results suggest that autistic individuals can make generalisations but that this happens more slowly across both social and non-social areas. These generalisations are very reliant on detail – in computer terms, they are ‘pixelated’. This is in line with what HIPPEA suggests. We also showed that autistic individuals can be motivated to explore and engage socially, something that needs more consideration within HIPPEA. Overall, this study shows that HIPPEA can explain many autistic experiences, but that further refinement is needed.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | This work was partly funded by a +3 studentship from the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science of the Economic and Social Research Council (Grant Number: ES/P000681/1, Project Number: 1943784), UK to the first author. |
| Status: | Early Online Publication |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Pollick, Professor Frank and Hatton, Mrs Rosie and Todorova, Ms Greta and Sadique, Miss Sarveen |
| Authors: | Todorova, G. K., Mcbean Hatton, R. E., Sadique, S., and Pollick, F. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience |
| Journal Name: | Autism |
| Publisher: | SAGE Publications |
| ISSN: | 1362-3613 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1461-7005 |
| Published Online: | 09 June 2023 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2023 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in Autism 2023 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record
Funder and Project Information
Funder and Project Information