Mr Hamish Watt1, Mr Harry D’Onghia1, Professor Emma Thomas1,2, Professor Robyn Young1,2
1Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia, 2Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Adelaide, Australia
Biography:
Robyn Young’s interest in autism began while studying savants as part of her PhD in Savant Syndrome. This work became the subject of an ABC documentary titled Uncommon Genius. She went on to develop a screening tool for Autistic Disorder suitable for use in children as young as 12 months of age. This tool, known as the Autism Detection in Early Childhood (ADEC; ACER, 2007), clearly operationalises early behaviours indicative of autism. Her work has now turned to older persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Specifically she is interested in why persons with ASD may become unwittingly involved in crime.
Abstract:
Increasing media attention on autistic individuals involved in extremist groups and engaging with radical content has prompted researchers to examine whether specific vulnerabilities associated with autism may contribute to radical engagement. Existing research regarding the intersection between autism and radicalisation spans quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods and non-empirical research designs, with evidence fragmented across disciplines. Currently, no review integrates and synthesises the available research exploring the relationship between autistic individuals and engagement with radicalisation processes. In this mixed-methods systematic review), we reviewed all available studies examining the relationship between autism and radicalisation by following the convergent integrated JBI approach to evidence synthesis. Of secondary interest was mapping identified vulnerabilities to radicalisation onto Kruglanski et al.’s (2019) 3N (Needs, Networks, and Narratives) theory of radicalisation, a widely used explanatory framework in the radicalisation literature. Through reviewing diverse study designs, this review offers an integrated synthesis, identifying consistencies and differences in the literature which enables the development of a comprehensive and accurate understanding of potential factors involved in engagement, disengagement, vulnerability to and resilience against radicalisation in autistic populations. By evaluating the methodological quality of included studies, this review also identifies limitations associated with the current evidence and offers informed directions for future research.