Jake is a three-year-old African American boy who has been diagnosed with autism. Using a developmental psychopathology macroparadigm, Jake's situation will be discussed from the following perspectives: biological, behavioral, cognitive, emotional, evolutionary and family systems.
From a biological perspective, Jake possesses certain biological characteristics that deviate from those of his normal counterparts. Compared to his peers, Jake seems to have a significantly larger head. Furthermore, imaging studies have identified certain abnormalities in his brain structure. These findings accord with those of neuroanatomists who have seen abnormalities in the brain structure of autistic children, which undermine their ability to process information appropriately (Stokstad, 2001). In addition, Courchesne, Carper and Akshoomoff (2003) found that the head circumference of autistic children is significantly larger than that of normal children.
According to Jake's mother, he is unable to make sustained eye contact with anyone and tries to avoid looking at people directly even when spoken to. In addition, Jake engages in other types of atypical behaviors such as flapping his arms and spinning incessantly. He often picks up a favorite object such as a car and moves it back and forth before his eyes and scrutinizes his trains for a long time from multiple perspectives.
What is most troubling for Jake's mother is her difficulties with taking him out on errands or trips because of Jake's fixation on routines. When they leave the house, Jake insists that his mother follows the same route on a daily basis; any deviations from the norm will result in massive tantrums. Furthermore, Jake's mother has to abide by a schedule that contains a sequence of activities that cannot be altered. Therefore, when unexpected events occur that require a change in the bath routine, for instance, Jake will also throw a tan
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