Miracle Mineral Solution To Treat Autism Spectrum Disorder

Part1

Scenario

A well-educated, professional couple you know has a daughter who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) when she was two years old. Soon after, they confided in you that their doctors offered them little hope, and that they have been looking everywhere for a cure. They recently told you that they have started treating her with Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS).

The mother said that she was a bit concerned at the beginning because their daughter “cried really hard” when she was given her treatments, but she was glad they persisted because they had “gotten through the worst of it”. The husband said that they should never have doubted MMS because the web sites show that it is safe, has worked for lots of people, and that all they need to do is to keep following the treatment protocols. He had faith in them because they were developed by a highly respected scientist “who knows more about ASD than those other doctors”.

However, you became somewhat sceptical and concerned because when you press them they are not clear about the how MMS is supposed to cure ASD, and because you have not noticed any improvement in their daughter’s behaviour or capabilities.

After reviewing the evidence for yourself, you conclude that MMS is scientifically unproven as a treatment for ASD. However, unlike other more benign forms of alternative medicine, the MMS treatment protocols have the potential to cause serious harm in children.

You put these things to your friends and they are not happy. They respond with the counter arguments typically used by supporters of MMS in situations like this, “the pharmaceutical industry is spreading misinformation about the safety of MMS and blocking scientific research that will prove its effectiveness in order to protect its profits”. They end the conversation by saying that “we’ve done a lot of research, it’s safe, it’s the best available treatment, our daughter is getting better, and no amount of rhetoric from MMS detractors can take that away”.

Question

What cognitive biases might explain the couple’s belief that MMS is a safe and effective treatment for their daughter’s ASD, and their reactions to your conversations in this scenario?

When answering this question, please note the following.

• · There is a 400 word limit for this answer (excluding the reference list), and markers will not read beyond this.
• · Write clearly in an appropriate academic style.
• · There are many cognitive biases, include those that are most relevant to the scenario.
• · Clearly explain each cognitive bias you include.
• · Link each cognitive bias you include to specific features of the scenario.
• · Many cognitive biases have been discussed in unit resources, others can be found by searching the academic literature.
• · Support each cognitive bias you include with a citation.
• · You can cite from unit resources (e.g. lecture slides or unit readings, etc.), but the use of additional peer-reviewed sources is desirable.
• · Provide a reference list for all sources you cite, and use APA style for both the reference list and for in-text citations.
• · A link to an APA style guide is provided in the Assessment section of the sped102 ilearn site, and other resources can be found on the internet (e.g. google “how to cite a lecture in APA”).

Confirmation bias is an individual’s tendency to search for or favour information that confirms ones pre-existing beliefs and ideas (Sleegers, Proulx, & Van Beest, 2019). Sleeger et al. (2007) established that confirmation bias of empirical work has impacted popular and important areas such as medical care and policy making (p. 76). Confirmation bias can be observed throughout the case study through biases including an individual’s intuitive and deliberate thinking as well as the Dunning-Kruger Effect.

Lindeman (2011) explores two modes of thinking, deliberate and intuitive thinking and emphasises the abstract process, claiming it is void of reasoning and intelligence as an unconscious phenomenon essential for our survival (p. 372). When used to understand the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) such as the Miracle Mineral Solution(MMS), Lindeman (2011) emphasises that both CAM and our intuition are reliant upon similarity-based associations, and thus our intuitive thinking it more attentive to new information and previous knowledge, associated with the alternative medicinal approach. It is in this way that MMS and other alternative approaches rely almost wholly on claims of individuals and are resistant to change regardless of scientific counter-evidence (p. 373), which is prominent throughout the case study.

Additionally, Whitehouse (2013), analyses the effects CAM has had on the symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) where the research concluded that CAMS including immune therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy are ineffective ways of treating ASD and thus have no positive effect on an affected individuals’ behaviour or capabilities (p. 440). As of current the only recommended alternative approach is treating the ASD symptom of sleep difficulties with melatonin as it aids by regulating of the circadian rhythm (Whitehouse, 2013).

Despite the above research explored, an individual’s inability to understand the harms associated with CAM such as Miracle Mineral Solution can be attributed to the Dunning-Kruger Effect which illustrates and explain the biases where an individual believes their cognitive ability is greater than it actually is (Motta, Callaghan, & Sylvester, 2018). In many cases this cognitive effect can influence individuals to possess preconceived negative attitudes towards western medicine such as anti-vaccination ideals, and MMS for treating autism and other non-curable illnesses (Motta et al., 2007). Motta et al. (2007) was able to demonstrate through their research that individuals who were ill-educated on the causes of autism where the more likely to be over confident and believed to be more knowledgeable than medical professionals (p. 280).

Overall, it can be concluded that due to the Dunning-Kruger Effect, a lack of understanding of CAM and the inherent human modes of thinking, the couple’s beliefs have extreme cognitive biases on the treatment of their daughter’s autism, causing her to suffer both physically and emotionally.

References

1. Lindeman, M. (2011). Biases in intuitive reasoning and belief in complementary and alternative medicine. Psychology & Health, 26(3), 371–382.
2. Motta, M., Callaghan, T., & Sylvester, S. (2018). Knowing less but presuming more: Dunning-Kruger effects and the endorsement of anti-vaccine policy attitudes. Social Science & Medicine, 211, 274–281.
3. Sleegers, W. W., Proulx, T., & Beest, I. V. (2019). Confirmation bias and misconceptions: Pupillometric evidence for a confirmation bias in misconceptions feedback. Biological Psychology, 145, 76–83.
4. Whitehouse, A. J. (2013). Complementary and alternative medicine for autism spectrum disorders: Rationale, safety and efficacy. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 49(9).

Part 2

You are required to examine and analyse the following web site for features or claims that are consistent with the characteristics of a scientific approach AND/OR characteristic of pseudoscience or represent red flags.

SHOPBODYVIBES

When answering this question, please note the following.

• · There is an 800 word limit for this answer (excluding the reference list), and markers will not read beyond this.
• · Write clearly in an appropriate academic style.
• · For each feature or claim you include, explain the relevant characteristic of science, pseudoscience or red flag it represents.
• · Many characteristics of science, pseudoscience or red flags have been discussed in unit resources, others can be found by searching the academic literature.
• · Support your argument in relation to the characteristics of science, pseudoscience or red flags you include with a citation.
• · You can cite from unit resources (e.g. lecture slides or unit readings, etc.), but the use of additional peer-reviewed sources is desirable.
• · Provide a reference list for all sources you cite, and use APA style for both the reference list and for in-text citations.
• · A link to an APA style guide is provided in the Assessment section of the sped102 ilearn site, and other resources can be found on the internet (e.g. google “how to cite a lecture in APA”).

The characteristics of science and pseudoscience are becoming more difficult to distinguish between, as a study by Mamola (2006) found that over 35% of high school graduates believe in pseudoscience such as astrology (p. 200). Pseudoscience is defined as claims which appear to have scientific justification but lack plausibility and supporting evidence (Mamola, 2006).

Body Vibes stickers were developed using frequency technology in order to heal or aid an individual from symptoms such as anxiety, lack of focus and sleep, as well as improve overall mood (Body Vibes, 2019).

However, Body Vibes and its technology relies heavily on authority as the creators claim that these ‘healing’ stickers are ‘infused’ with Solfeggio frequencies and crystalline structures (Body Vibes, 2019). Solfeggio, however, is a musical term, a way of teaching the major scale from 396Hz to 852Hz (Feedback, 2018).

The website asserts that these frequencies date back to the early middle ages (Body Vibes, 2019) where Gregorian chants were used as a form of sacred song in Churches, with the intention of healing the individual using liturgical recitative (Piscitelli, 2001). Nonetheless, for this report it is important to emphasise that no peer-reviewed articles regarding Solfeggio frequencies, Gregorian Chants or their ability to be ‘infused’ within a surface such as a sticker were encountered.

The company recommends that customers drink approximately 1-2litres of water a day to optimize the effects of the stickers, which include a decrease in symptoms of anxiety and an increase in focus and sleep. (Body Vibes, 2019) However, Body Vibes may display a lack of critical analysis between water consumption and increased mood, as increased total water consumption has been scientifically recognised to reduce anxiety and increase focus and sleep in individuals (Muñoz et al., 2015). Muñoz et al., 2015 was able to conclude through researching and monitoring water intake of individuals that greater water intake was associated with greater overall mood, specifically, a reduction in mood disorders, such as anxiety in ‘high’ water consumers compared to ‘low’ consumers (p. 84). Furthermore, Pross et al., 2014 examined the effects of increased water intake in ‘low’ water drinkers and found a significant correlation between increased water intake and decreased fatigue and anxiety.