Research Timeline
40 years of monotropism theory development. From origin to mainstream.
Pre-History (Before 1990)
1985 ā Dinah Murray completes PhD in psycholinguistics at UCL. Thesis: "Language and Interests."
~1990 ā Murray reads Uta Frith's Autism: Explaining The Enigma. Catalyzes her autism research.
Theory Development (1990-2004)
1992 ā First Presentation
Durham Autism Conference. Dinah Murray presents "Attention Tunnelling and Autism."
Term coined: Jeanette Buirski creates "monotropism"
- Greek: mono- (single) + tropism (turning/direction)
- Meaning: single-way orientation of attention
Mid-1990s ā Parallel Development
Australia: Wenn Lawson independently develops "single focused attention" framework. Unaware of Murray's work in England.
1998 ā The Meeting
Wenn presents "Life and Learning in Autism: Single Focused Attention." Dinah attends.
"That first meeting was to be the beginning of our working partnership and a lifelong friendship." ā Wenn Lawson
Same concepts, developed independently, on opposite sides of the world.
2001 ā First Book
Lawson, W. Understanding and Working with the Spectrum of Autism
First explicit contrast: monotropism (autistic) vs polytropism (neurotypical).
Publication & Validation (2005-2011)
2005 ā ā THE LANDMARK PAPER
Murray, D., Lesser, M., & Lawson, W. "Attention, monotropism and the diagnostic criteria for autism." Autism, 9(2), 139-156.
- First peer-reviewed publication
- Three-author collaboration
- Scientific foundation established
- Still the most-cited monotropism paper
ā Download PDF
2009 ā Murray's Diagnosis
Dinah Murray diagnosed autistic. Co-developer of theory identified as autistic.
2011 ā Major Book
Lawson, W. The Passionate Mind: How People with Autism Learn
Based on PhD thesis: "Single Attention and Associated Cognition in Autism" (SAACA).
Expansion Era (2012-2018)
2012 ā Double Empathy Connects
Milton, D. "On the ontological status of autism: The 'double empathy problem.'"
Cites monotropism. Explains why communication differs. Complementary autistic-led theory.
ā Download PDF
2015 ā Loss of Co-Founder
Mike Lesser passes away (1943-2015). Brought mathematical rigor to the theory.
ā Tribute
2018 ā First Conference
PARC hosts "Autistic Fringe" mini-conference. First academic event dedicated to monotropism.
Mainstream Recognition (2019-2023)
2019 ā Breakthrough Article
Murray, F. "Me and Monotropism: A unified theory of autism." The Psychologist
Most-read article in The Psychologist that year. Made theory accessible to general audience.
ā Download PDF
2021 ā Research Explosion Begins
Multiple peer-reviewed papers incorporating monotropism:
- Buckle et al. ā Autistic Inertia
- Ashinoff & Abu-Akel ā Hyperfocus
ā Download: Autistic Inertia ā Download: Hyperfocus
2021 ā Dinah Murray Dies
Founder of monotropism theory passes away. Legacy continued by community.
ā Tribute
2023 ā Monotropism Questionnaire
Research-validated self-assessment tool published.
ā Take the MQ
Current Era (2024-2025)
2024 ā Research Explosion
Major papers:
- Dwyer et al. ā Trans-diagnostic investigation (N=492)
- Heasman et al. ā Autistic Flow Theory
- Grissom et al. ā Verbal fluency reframed
2025 ā New Primary Book
Lawson, W.B. Autism and Being Monotropic: What Medical and Other Practitioners Need to Know. Springer.
141 pages. Comprehensive practitioner guide. The new standard reference.
ā Springer
The Arc
1985 Murray PhD
ā
1992 "Attention tunnelling" presented
Term "monotropism" coined
ā
1998 Murray meets Lawson
Independent validation
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2005 ā LANDMARK PAPER
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2012 Double Empathy connects
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2019 Popular breakthrough
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2021 Research explosion begins
Murray dies
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2024 Multiple major studies
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2025 New primary book
Theory mature
What It Means
40 years from first inklings to mainstream recognition. Autistic-led research, validated by science.
The theory isn't new. The recognition is.
ā What is Monotropism? | The Theorists