The 1960s marked a turning point in autism research.
Moving away from psychodynamic theories that blamed parents, researchers and clinicians began to focus on observable behaviors and scientific methods.
This shift gave rise to behavioral psychology as a dominant framework for understanding and treating autism.
One of the most influential figures during this time was psychologist Dr. Ole Ivar Lovaas, whose work at UCLA helped develop early behavioral interventions for kids diagnosed with autism (Lovaas, 1967).
Dr. Lovaas applied operant conditioning principles — rewards for desired behaviors and punishments for undesired ones — to encourage communication and reduce repetitive actions (stimming or self-stimulatory behavior such as repeatedly spinning in circles).
An example of operant conditioning, which is commonly used by parents the world over without them even realizing it, would be that of rewarding a child with a yummy dessert once they finished their vegetables. Worked for me like a charm. This would be positive reinforcement.
Another example is when adults receive a paycheck every two weeks for performing a job.
A form of operant conditioning, called negative reinforcement, would be that of spanking a child or giving a timeout for running across a busy street when they were instructed not to.
The Rise of ABA Therapy
Dr. Lovaas’s work led to the creation of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a highly structured method of teaching skills through positive reinforcement.
ABA became the most widely used intervention for autistic children and remains a standard therapeutic approach today.
Dr. Lovaas published a controversial 1987 study claiming that nearly half of young kids in his ABA program achieved “normal” intellectual and educational functioning by first grade (Lovaas, 1987).
While this claim drew interest and support, it also sparked criticism for its emphasis on normalization (e.g., discouraging stimming) and its use of aversive techniques.
Rejection of the “Refrigerator Mother” Theory
During the same decade, research began to firmly debunk the idea that autism was caused by cold or unloving parents.
Pioneers such as Dr. Bernard Rimland, a psychologist and parent of an autistic child, published data-driven critiques of psychoanalytic explanations.
Dr. Rimland’s influential book, Infantile Autism: The Syndrome and Its Implications for a Neural Theory of Behavior (1964), argued for a biological and neurological basis of autism (Rimland, 1964) — a major step forward in reframing autism as a neurodevelopmental condition.
Toward a More Scientific Understanding
By the end of the 1960s, autism research was undergoing a transformation.
The focus was shifting from blame and speculation to empirical research, early intervention and systematic observation.
However, the field was still in its infancy, and a standardized definition or diagnosis had yet to be established.
Next: Part 5 in this 10-part series: DSM-III Adds Autism: A Turning Point in Diagnosis
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical and fitness topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer. In 2022 she received a diagnosis of Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder.
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