Thread by @Richard_Autism

@milton_damian @Andylowarousal @gdmorewood @elly_chapple @paullib1972 @KarenMcGuin @1985Deanne @emmadimps
I think the Scout Mindset is a key part of being a reflective practitioner, researcher & person. Worth a watch/ listen.

Context: I currently listening to the audiobook on the topic as part of my further reading. Rather interesting.

Back to the video, point about self-esteem not being linked to right or wrong is important.

Reflecting on the point about that one tends to have a "scout mindset" is due to emotions, same for "soldier mindset", I would suggest fits in with @mrjamesob work on persons being controlled by right wing media by being made to be angry/ scared at something.

Oh boy.

Apparently, good judgement is predicted by:
Being curious.
Being open.
Being grounded.

Oh boy, well the opposite would explain why some are so ardent PDA is a form of autism. Sigh.

I am not saying anyone is intrinsically lacking good judgement on PDA. The point is according Julia Galef, one is more likely to have good judgement with a "scout mindset", which is linked to someone's emotions on a topic.

This is what I am shocked/ excited about, as it feeds into my work on how PDA is being used to control various autism stakeholders, so that they are likely to become highly aroused if "PDA Profile of ASD" is critiqued/ challenged.

I discuss these points in last months conference talk.
researchgate.net/publication/35…

I discuss how some parties are portraying & propagating PDA as a "Profile if ASD", leads to persons being closed on PDA, i.e., likely to be defensive etc if "PDA as an ASD" is critiqued. Thus, person is not using "scout mindset" on the topic.

Julia Galef is quite clear, "scout mindset" is not really about intelligence/ intrinsic attributes, it is about emotions & how we feel about a topic.

It is why she says we should ask people what do they want on a topic:

What do you most year for? Do you wish to defend your own beliefs, or do you yearn to see the world as clearly as you possibly can?

Takes me back to how certain parties are portraying & propagating PDA matters, if you want "PDA Profile of ASD" to be recognised, or if you think you know what PDA is & looks like as an ASD. Would tend to lead to a person wishing to defend their own beliefs.

Thus, a person is not being truly open on PDA.

This takes me back to something I have been saying often in recent weeks. That a person TRULY needs to be open minded on a topic, TRULY be willing to be mistaken on a topic, as part of scientific process.

Which takes me back to why I am a big fan of @DrMBotha recent paper, in how she asks persons to consider how our values shape our understandings & conceptualisations of autism.
frontiersin.org/articles/10.33…

"those who write or speak about autism to engage reflexively with how their values shape their understanding and construction of autistic people." (Botha 2021, 1).

Is equally applicable to those reading/ writing about PDA.

I actively reflect upon how my own values shape my understandings & conceptualisations of PDA; through my passion for inclusive scientific-method based research & practice. E.g., here:
researchgate.net/publication/35…

And here:
researchgate.net/publication/35…

An example. From my understanding Sally Cat would expect me give her preferential treatment because she strongly identifies with "PDA Profile of ASD". Thinks she knows what PDA is & what it looks like. Not exactly open to seeing what PDA could be.

I critique & challenge "PDA Profile of ASD" narrative, & the notion of preferential treatment for someone strongly identifying with PDA. Sally Cat seems to experiences negative emotions at said critique of PDA.

Then decides (among other things) to do this (not exactly good judgement by Sally Cat).

But why does SallyCat think PDA is a form of autism? Probably, (significantly) because various prominent parties are portraying & propagating PDA as a "Profile of ASD".

This goes back to my point that there is an ethical responsibility to provide balanced & accurate information on PDA. That "PDA Profile of ASD" should NOT be a "cultural-based concept" in the UK.

I am relatively sympathetic to the likes of Sally Cat, as they kind of being set up to predisposed towards "soldier mindset" when persons like Christie are platformed:

... Argues against debating what PDA is over its clinical need. We need to maintain integrity of how PDA is understood (as a Profile of ASD).

If you are vulnerable stressed caregiver, whose CYP's support packages are based on "PDA Profile of ASD". Why would you disagree with likes of Christie, when it seems that PDA describes your child & its strategies work with the CYP?

The point here is that likes of Christie, NAS & PDA Society often have high power differentials over vulnerable caregivers & autistic persons (which are largely not discussed in PDA literature, just like their COIs).

This goes back to one of my many issues with PDA literature, a lack of considering the ethics on PDA, if it is suitable to portray it is a "PDA Profile of ASD".

Also not mention one is not exactly being open on PDA, if they are arguing we should maintain the integrity of how it is understood; i.e., one is not exactly being open to "scout mindset" for what PDA could be, with such view.

On that note, I will end this thread here.

@threadreaderapp please could you unroll?

Thank you in advance.