A Strange World

"The term 'autism' is first used in three different places, independentlyfrom each other. The first time is in the annual reports (1937/1938 and1939/1940) of the Paedological Institute in Nijmegen, where the term wasused by, among others, Chorus, for children who are 'extremely turnedinward' (Frye, 1968)".


A Strange World is an intriguing and comprehensive guide to autistic spectrum disorders presented from a new biopsychological perspective. Martine Delfos provides a strong theoretical analysis of the nature of autism and the problems it may cause. Illustrating her ideas with many real life examples, Delfos offers practical advice from the perspectives of autistic people of all ages, and from parents and carers. Balancing theory and practice, she incorporates the findings of current research, and moves beyond, addressing issues such as differences between men and women with autistic spectrum disorders, and the question of what is ‘normal’. A Strange World is both an accessible resource for parents and an important textbook for students and professionals.

Martine F. Delfos PhD, is a psychologist who works with clients with a broad spectrum of behavioural problems and who is committed to the development of theoretical models that are directly applicable in the daily work of professionals. She is the author of several books in the fields of child psychology, autism and behavioural difficulties, including Children and Behavioural Problems, also published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.