Wounds of Social Devaluation in Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night Time

Abstract This paper explores the concept of social devaluation as presented in Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the NightTime (2003), focusing on the journey of the protagonist, Christopher, who is on the autism spectrum. It employs Erving Goffman’s notion of social devaluation alongside Wolfensberger's theory of Social Role Valorization, which outlines eighteen "wounds" experienced by individuals who are devalued, to analyse the discrimination and marginalization faced by Christopher. The study identifies and examines these wounds as they manifest in Christopher’s experiences. These encompass societal perceptions of his physical and cognitive difficulties, the enforcement of functional limitations, being relegated to a lower social status, denial from his mother, and being assigned deviant social roles. Furthermore, it addresses the symbolic stigmatization stemming from labelling, his scapegoating in the central murder mystery, social alienation, and the diminishment of his autonomy. Through Christopher's experiences, the paper argues that Haddon’s work powerfully illustrates the social devaluation encountered by those with autism. It reveals how societal attitudes and actions, whether intentional or unintentional, contribute to their marginalization and pursuit of acceptance. The analysis highlights the disparity between Christopher's skills and the limitations imposed by a society that often misinterprets and overlooks neurodiversity. Keywords: Devaluation, Social Roles, Autism, Struggle