Elective mutism

Elective mutism is the former name for selective mutism. Elective mutism was defined as a refusal to speak in almost all social situations (despite normal ability to do so), while selective mutism is considered to be a failure to speak in specific situations and is strongly associated with social anxiety disorder. In contrast to selective mutism, someone who is electively mute may not speak in any situation, as is usually shown in books and movies. Elective mutism is often attributed to defiance or the effect of trauma.

History

In 1877, a German physician named the disorder aphasia voluntaria to describe children who were able to speak normally but often "refused" to.^[1]

In 1980, a study by Torey Hayden identified four "subtypes" of Elective Mutism:^[2]

• Symbiotic mutism: the most common form, caused by a vocal and dominating mother and absent father (very rarely the other way around) and characterized by the use of mutism as controlling behavior around other adults.
• Speech phobic mutism: the least common, in which the child showed distinct fear at hearing a recording of his or her voice. This also involved ritualistic behaviors, which may reflect OCD, and was thought to be caused by the child having been told to keep a family secret.
• Reactive mutism: a reaction to trauma and/or abuse, with all children showing symptoms of depression and being notably withdrawn, usually showing no facial expressions. Notably, Hayden admits that some children put in this category had no apparent incident to react to, but they were included because of their symptoms.
• Passive-aggressive mutism: silence is used as a display of hostility, connected to antisocial behavior. Some of the children in her study had reportedly not been mute until age 9-12.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), first published in 1952, first included Elective Mutism in its third edition, published in 1980. Elective mutism was described as "a continuous refusal to speak in almost all social situations" despite normal ability to speak. While "excessive shyness" and other anxiety-related traits were listed as associated features, predisposing factors included "maternal overprotection", mental retardation, and trauma. Elective mutism in the third edition revised (DSM III-R) is described similarly as in the third edition except for specifying that the disorder is not related to social anxiety disorder.

In 1994, the fourth edition of the DSM reflected the name change to selective mutism and redefined the disorder.

Cultural references

Though elective mutism is no longer recognized by most psychiatrists, it is a popular character element or plot point in stories and movies. Many characters choose to stop speaking, for various reasons. Even more commonly, there are also characters who stop speaking after a traumatic incident. In both these cases, often, and almost always in the second, the character is silent in all situations. This is therefore not selective mutism, and anxiety is very rarely involved. Selective mutism itself is almost nonexistent in pop culture.

The following are a few references to stories including a character who does not speak despite being physically able to.

• In the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, the main character, Melinda, has trouble talking after being raped.

• In the book Cut by Patricia McCormick, the main character, Callie, is an elective mute. The popularity of Speak and Cut have most likely done a great deal to spread the conception of elective mutism as refusal to speak or a response to trauma.

• In The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, Clara Trueba is mute after witnessing her sisters molestation and autopsy. "She could not move until the first lights of dawn appeared. Only then did she slip back into her bed, feeling within her the silence of the entire world. Silence filled her utterly."

• In Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris, Hannibal Lecter is mute after witnessing his sister killed and eaten.

• In the book Flying Solo, the character Rachel is mute for six months after a classmate dies.

• In the film Little Miss Sunshine, the character of Dwayne has not spoken in nine months due to a vow of silence he has taken until he can get into the US Air Force Academy.

• In the film Fun Size, Albert DeSantis seems to have stopped talking since the death of his father.

• In The Piano, Ada is an elective mute. She chooses to learn to speak at the end of the film.

References