Refrigerator mother theory
Refrigerator mother theory is a discarded theory that postulates autism is caused by a lack of maternal warmth. The theory was developed by Leo Kanner, an American psychiatrist, in the 1940s. The term "refrigerator mother" was coined by Bernard Rimland, a psychologist and father of a child with autism, in 1964. The theory has been widely criticized and is no longer accepted by the medical community.
History[edit | edit source]
The refrigerator mother theory was first proposed by Leo Kanner in 1943. Kanner observed that the parents of children with autism were often emotionally distant and suggested that this could be a cause of the disorder. This theory was later expanded upon by Bruno Bettelheim, a psychologist who believed that autism was a psychological response to an uncaring mother.
In the 1960s, Bernard Rimland, a psychologist and father of a child with autism, challenged the refrigerator mother theory. Rimland argued that autism was a biological disorder, not a psychological one. His work led to a shift in the understanding of autism and the eventual rejection of the refrigerator mother theory.
Criticism and rejection[edit | edit source]
The refrigerator mother theory has been widely criticized for its lack of scientific evidence and for blaming parents for their children's autism. Many studies have shown that there is no correlation between parenting style and autism, and the theory is no longer accepted by the medical community.
In the 1970s, research began to focus on the biological causes of autism, leading to a shift away from the refrigerator mother theory. Today, autism is understood to be a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with a strong genetic component.
Legacy[edit | edit source]
Despite its rejection, the refrigerator mother theory has had a lasting impact on the perception of autism and the treatment of individuals with the disorder. The theory has also been a source of guilt and shame for many parents of children with autism.
See also[edit | edit source]
| Refrigerator mother theory Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
