Representation of autism in fictional media: A systematic review of media content and its impact on viewer knowledge and understanding of autism

Summary & key facts

This review examined how autistic people are shown in fictional media (Part A) and whether watching those portrayals changes what people know or feel about autism (Part B). Seventeen articles met the review rules: 14 analysed portrayals and 3 tested viewer effects (those 3 included five experiments). Media studied spanned 1988–2017. The review found many stereotyped or unhelpful portrayals alongside some positive, nuanced ones. In viewer studies, people who saw fictional portrayals were more likely to assign positive traits to an autistic person, but watching fiction did not improve factual knowledge about autism. The authors note there were few studies, short media exposures, and limits in

Key facts:

• Seventeen articles met the review criteria: 14 studies examined media content (Part A) and 3 studies examined viewer effects (Part B); the Part B studies included five experimental tests.
• The fictional media analysed in Part A covered a 30-year period from 1988 to 2017.
• Reviewers found several stereotypical and unhelpful portrayals of autistic people in fictional media.
• Some portrayals were positive and showed strengths and nuance in autistic characters.
• Across the five experimental tests in Part B, people exposed to fictional portrayals were significantly more likely to attribute positive traits to an autistic person than those in control groups; reported effect sizes were medium, ranging
• The studies in Part B did not show any improvement in viewers' factual knowledge about autism after short exposures to fictional portrayals.
• The authors highlight limits: a small number of studies, brief media exposures, and a need for better, more respectful measures of community knowledge and attitudes toward autistic people.

Abstract

The way autism is represented in fictional media can impact people's views of autistic people. For example, representations may contribute to negative views of autistic people as being unusual or dangerous, or they may challenge stereotypes and instead highlight the strengths of autistic people. This work aimed to review previous research to understand how autistic people have been represented in fictional media (Part A). It also sought to understand whether viewing fictional portrayals of autism has an impact on people's knowledge of autism and attitudes towards autistic people (Part B). Of 14 studies that were included in Part A, several unhelpful and stereotypical portrayals of autism emerged. Positive portrayals were those that highlighted the strengths of autistic people and reflected nuance. There is a need for greater diversity in representation of autism in fictional media. For example, not all autistic people are white heterosexual males. Across the five studies included in Part B, there were no improvements in people's knowledge of autism after watching or reading a short segment from a fictional TV series or novel that depicts an autistic person. Although there was a significant improvement in people's attitudes towards autistic people, these findings do not provide a complete picture given the short length of the media exposure and small number of studies. Future studies should investigate how multiple exposures to the representation of autistic people in both fictional and non-fictional sources can affect people's understanding of autism. There is also a need to develop more accurate and respectful ways of measuring people's knowledge of, and attitudes towards, autism.

Topics

Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Child Development and Digital Technology Media Influence and Health

Categories

Cognitive Neuroscience Life Sciences Neuroscience

Tags

Autism Computer science Content (measure theory) Developmental psychology Inclusion (mineral) Law Mathematical analysis Mathematics Media content Multimedia Political science Politics Psychology Representation (politics) Social psychology