Individual differences explantion - Weak central coherence theory

Question 1

What is weak central coherence theory?

Answer 1

Developed by Frith
- ability to derive overall meaning from a mass of details
- the notion of a “weak central coherence” can explain both deficits and strengths if those with ASD
- when a task requires a person to extract global meaning from many details, to get rhetorical ‘big picture’ those with ASD would be at a major disadvantage but when picking out extreme detail from surrounding masses of information is requires, those with ASD would be in a position to shine

believes that it is not just a failure to extract global form and meaning but it is also and “outcome of superiority in local processing - frith views it more as a bias rather than a ‘lack’

Question 2

Global vs local processing

Answer 2

Global processing is the act of processing a visual stimulus holistically
- represents the larger, overall image as a whole and global precedence is generally more prevalent than local precedence

local processing consists of individual features that make up this larger whole
- focuses attention to detail

Question 3

Is weak central coherence a bad thing?

Answer 3

• it is usually misunderstood as being “poor” but most tests if WCC are geared to show good or superior performance
• those with autism perceive the world differently and have a cognitive preference for one form of processing over the other which is local over global so they have a more detailed processing style.
  Frith states central coherence refers to our ability to integrate fine details into an overall pattern and to understand how elements come together in a meaningful way e.g remembering a convo you had a few days ago but you are able to recall the gist of it and not the fine details

When presented with alot of information those with ASD struggle and they pick a single item and focus relentlessly on that, to the exclusion of wider context — means that those with ASD excel on tasks which require selecting detail

Question 4

Evidence

Answer 4

Shah and Frith (1993)
- tested weak central coherence theory with :
20 young people with ASD
13 young people with learning difficulties
17 older typically developing young children
16 younger typically developing children

All were shown a two dimensional pattern on a cars and they had to construct the same patterns using blocks - there were 40 designs in total

Those with ASD performed better compared to the other groups - this could suggest a preference for local processing is an advantage when details are important
- the patterns were then broken up and those with ASD did no better showing WCC is true as they do worse when they need to have a grasp on the gist of the situation rather than attention to detail

Question 5

Evaluation

Answer 5

An optimistic Image of ASD
- Unlike theory of mind and other theories, WCC gives an optimistic image of ASD because it recognises that those with ASD have more superior abilities in local processing and that this is a cognitive “preference” or “bias” rather than impairment or failure
- means there is less focus on what they cannot do

A more comprehensive theory
- other theories offer explanations for social deficits of those with ASD but WCC explains more of the non social aspects of the disorder e.g obsessive interests and repetitive behaviours
- explains superior performance and tries to account for special talents — means it is more valid

Question 6

Evaluation 2

Answer 6

Individual differences
- this theory can apply to some and not all of those who have ASD so it cannot be used to explain all the behaviours
- individual differences has to be accounted for as not everyone displays the same behaviour and it is not right to assume everyone does
- makes the explanation less valid

Why the preference?
- does not explain how the preference for local processing is established in the first place
- research is ongoing but no firm conclusions have been reached and it has been suggested that if we cannot explain this then the validity of the theory is questioned
- can even suggest that WCC may not be a complete explanation and it may be more appropriate to consider the cognitive explanation alongside a biological one e.g this preference may be due to brain dysfunction so it is better to have a more integrated explanation