Scott, Corrine (2013) Neurodiversity, Sexuality, and Intimacy: A Critical Discourse Analysis. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
The limited research available on autism and sexuality predominantly positions autistic adults within asexual or sexually inappropriate paradigms. Drawing on discursive psychology, I examine the ways in which a group of autistic adults construct their sexual identities within a dominant neurotypical culture. A critical examination of six YouTube video logs revealed four key interpretive repertoires negotiated by autistic adults with sexual agendas: autistic adults are not constrained by neurotypical ideals; identity and sexual identity; socio-emotional differences; socio-sexual differences. Analysis revealed that the participant’s sexual identities were always in flux, comparable to their NT counterparts; the construction and reconstruction of sexual identities took place in response to the context of the environment at any given time. A key finding in this study was the influence emotional differences had on the constructions of sexual identities. Social, sexual, and emotional factors are perceived very differently between NT and autistic populations; therefore, it is recommended that autistic stakeholders are involved in either new program development and delivery, or the evaluation and revision of existing sociosexual programs to reflect this difference. Educational programs should target the emotional expectations around specific experiences in order to be of benefit to the autistic community. Equipping with more competent skills for regulating emotional intensity by broadening interpretive repertoires in a very specific way will prepare autistic individuals for the emotions they may experience when crossing milestones throughout the lifespan. This in turn, will strengthen their positions in constructing their own lives and sexual identities moving forward.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology, Counselling and Community (1 Jul 2013 - 31 Dec 2014) |
| Supervisors: | Charlotte Brownlow |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Sep 2025 01:52 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Sep 2025 01:52 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | neurodiversity, autism spectrum disorders, neurotypical, discursive psychology, critical discourse analysis, sexuality, intimacy, interpersonal relationship |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52741 |
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