Understanding Autism: The Origins of a Key Psychological Term

The term coined by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1912 from the Latin for self ism is "autism". Bleuler used the term to describe a group of symptoms that included withdrawal from social interaction, impaired communication, and restricted and repetitive behaviors. He believed that these symptoms were caused by a disturbance in the individual's sense of self, and he coined the term "autism" to reflect this.