Autism, Sexuality, and the Law: A Case Study

Background:  Most individuals with an autism diagnosis experience puberty and sexual development at the same rate as their peers (Lawson 2005; Murphy and Elias 2006). They however do not follow typical stages of development in social communication and social interaction (Atwood, 2014). These deficits become increasingly apparent in adolescence and young adulthood, when individuals are expected develop close friendships and romantic and relationships (Seltzer et al. 2003). The imbalance of development between physical and sexual and social- emotional coupled with deficits in Theory of Mind can lead to atypical interactions with peers leading to misunderstandings, inappropriate sexual activity, and potential legal consequences.

Objectives:  To identify the social, emotional and communicative deficits that lead to incarceration of a young adult with autism.

Methods:  This single-subject case study followed a young man with autism from arrest through trials and incarceration for sexual abuse spanning 5 years. In depth record review and analysis of psychological reports and assessments, court proceedings and evidence along with observation, interviews, and assessment were utilized to identify how a complex set of circumstances related to the core deficits of autism resulted in criminal charges.

Results:  Results of this 5-year case-study resulted in identification of three specific deficits in psychosexual understanding including: lack of understanding of non-verbal cues (body language), misinterpretation of tone of voice, and lack of perspective taking.

Conclusions:  The results from this longitudinal case study indicate the need for future research and interventions to address the intimate/social/sexual relationships and behaviors of individuals with autism. These interventions should target sexual education, social development, and sexual guidelines and consequences for aberrant sexual behavior.