Antioch University AURA - Antioch University Repository and Archive Student & Alumni Scholarship, including Dissertations & Theses Dissertations & Theses 2012 Life in the Uncanny Valley: Workplace Issues for Knowledge Workers on the Autism Spectrum Christina H. Rebholz Antioch University - Seattle Follow this and additional works at: http://aura.antioch.edu/etds Part of the Developmental Psychology Commons, and the Industrial and Organizational Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Rebholz, Christina H., "Life in the Uncanny Valley: Workplace Issues for Knowledge Workers on the Autism Spectrum" (2012). Dissertations & Theses. 29. http://aura.antioch.edu/etds/29 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student & Alumni Scholarship, including Dissertations & Theses at AURA - Antioch University Repository and Archive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations & Theses by an authorized administrator of AURA - Antioch University Repository and Archive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. LIFE IN THE UNCANNY VALLEY: WORKPLACE ISSUES FOR KNOWLEDGE WORKERS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Antioch University Seattle Seattle, WA In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements of the Degree Doctor of Psychology By Christina H. Rebholz November 2012 LIFE IN THE UNCANNY VALLEY: WORKPLACE ISSUES FOR KNOWLEDGE WORKERS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM This clinical dissertation, by Christina H . Rebholz, has been approved by the committee members signed below who recommend that it be accepted by the faculty of Antioch University of Seattle, Center for Programs in Psychology, in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY Dissertation Committee: Mark Russell, PhD --------------------------- Committee Chair Richart Coder, PhD --------------------------- Committee Member Alex Silverman, JD--------------------------- Committee Member ii Copyright by Christina H. Rebholz, 2012 All Rights Reserved iii 1 Abstract Life In The Uncanny Valley: Workplace Issues For Knowledge Workers On The Autism Spectrum Christina H. Rebholz Antioch University Seattle Many journal articles about autism spectrum disorders have been published. The definition of “high-functioning autism” used in these papers may need to be reconsidered, as a segment of the population may be more skilled than has been historically thought. A percentage of people on the autism spectrum work in a high-paying professional capacity, in industries such as computer technology and health care. Their intellectual capacities allow them to successfully perform the portions of their jobs that require deep technical knowledge. However, they struggle with the cognitive and social issues associated with the autism spectrum, such as: concrete thinking; literal information processing; contextual misunderstanding; and social misunderstandings. This qualitative study examines the issues encountered by high-functioning people on the autism spectrum who are in the top quartile of American wage earners. It also recounts the reaction of the participants to a major employment lawsuit filed by a knowledge worker with Asperger’s. In addition, the subjects describe what they believe are the strengths that they bring to the workplace that they do not perceive in people who are not on the autism spectrum. The electronic version of this dissertation is at OhioLink ETD Center, www.ohiolink.edu/etd. Dedication To the Aspies in my personal life: Marvin, Rose, Eileen; To the Aspies who participated in this study: Adam, Bill, Charles, David, Edward, Ford, Gina, Hank and Ian; To the Aspies who I worked with over the years; And to the wonderful, critical (in both senses) one that will remain nameless, I offer my profound thanks for being my teachers. vi Table of Contents Dedication ...................................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. xi List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... xii Purpose Of Study .............................................................................................................................1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................2 Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders. .................................................................................2 Estimate of High Functioning Autism Spectrum Population in the U.S. .....................................4 Overview of Research Available on Highly Functioning People on the Autism Spectrum ........5 Literature Review.............................................................................................................................7 Diagnostic Criteria of Autistic Disorder and Asperger’s Disorder ..............................................7 Characteristics of People on the Autism Spectrum Not Specified in the DSM-IV-TR ...............9 “Theory of Mind” and Empathy Issues. ...................................................................................9 Literal Thinking and Difficulty with Indirect Communication. .............................................11 Sensory Processing Difficulties ..............................................................................................13 ”Systemizing” and the Inability to Generalize. ......................................................................14 Mimicry as a Communication Strategy. .................................................................................14 Co-Morbid Diagnoses of Anxiety disorders, ADHD, Depression and Anxiety ....................15 Differences in Adaptive Functioning versus Intellectual Functioning .......................................15 Overview of Research Available on Highly Functioning People on the Autism Spectrum ......19 vii Research Questions ........................................................................................................................24 Research Methodology ..................................................................................................................26 Solicitation of Subjects ...............................................................................................................26 Interview Tactics ........................................................................................................................26 Location ..................................................................................................................................26 Interview Strategy ..................................................................................................................27 Interview Questions ................................................................................................................27 Participant Demographics ......................................................................................................30 Findings..........................................................................................................................................35 The High Level of Importance of Work in the Lives of People with HFA ...............................37 New challenges to his or her intellect are likely make a person with HFA feel most useful, and give him or her a feeling of self-worth ................................................................37 People with HFA generally love a job which allows them to be creative within defined parameters which are given to them ...........................................................................38 Being told that a cognitive task is difficult or can’t be done often motivates a person with HFA to try to tackle it .................................................................................................39 To a person with HFA, a job without intellectual challenge is career misery ........................40 The Primary Issues That Cause Job Difficulties for People with HFA......................................42 People with HFA are not able to understand subtle communication and context ..................42 It is highly likely that a person with HFA has a sensory processing disorder ........................46 viii People with HFA tend to process information differently than people not on the spectrum, and they know it .........................................................................................................47 How People with HFA Cope With Emotional Stressors ............................................................50 Key coping mechanisms of people with HFA include placing a high value on their own cognitive achievements, and using their cognitive strengths to try to compensate for weaknesses in other areas ...........................................................................................50 People with HFA often feel as though they’re “faking it” throughout their lives ..................53 Emotional difficulties and dysregulation are common in people with HFA due to a lack of coping strategies .........................................................................................................57 Some of a person with HFA’s ‘quirks’ are adapted expressions of well-known childhood autistic