Interest towards human, animal and object in children with autism spectrum disorders: an ethological approach at home

被引:17
作者
Grandgeorge, Marine [1 ,2 ,3 ]
Bourreau, Yannig [3 ]
Alavi, Zarrin [4 ]
Lemonnier, Eric [1 ]
Tordjman, Sylvie [5 ]
Deleau, Michel [6 ]
Hausberger, Martine [3 ]
机构
[1] Univ Bretagne Occidentale, Lab Neurosci Brest, EA 4685, Brest, France
[2] CHRU Brest, Hop Bohars, Ctr Ressources Autisme, Child Psychiat Serv, F-29820 Bohars, France
[3] Univ Rennes 1, UMR 6552, Rennes, France
[4] CHRU Brest, INSERM, CIC 0502, F-29820 Bohars, France
[5] CHU Guillaume Regnier, Dept Child & Adolescent Psychiat, Rennes, France
[6] Univ Rennes 2, CRPCC, Ctr Rech Psychol Cognit & Commun, EA 1285, F-35043 Rennes, France
关键词
Autism spectrum disorders; Ethology; Child-pet relationship; Attention; Social interaction; SOCIAL-INTERACTION; HUMAN SPEECH; ATTENTION; RECOGNITION; BIRDSONG; BEHAVIOR; THERAPY; CONTEXT; ADULTS; FACE;
D O I
10.1007/s00787-014-0528-9
中图分类号
B844 [发展心理学(人类心理学)];
学科分类号
040202 ;
摘要
Autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterised by attention deficits in communication and social interactions and a lack of interest in people. Data are mostly based on clinical situations. However, recent studies have shown a more mixed situation where children with ASD (ASD children) displayed interest towards humans, in both experimental and natural settings. The aim of this study was to assess the interest of ASD children in a natural standardised home setting. Here, we hypothesised that ASD children would display more interest towards animate stimuli-human and pet-when in the child's home than in the lab experimental setting. We used an ethological approach involving observations, a methodological alternative to lab static techniques, to investigate the behaviour of ninety 6- to 12-year-old ASD and typical development (TD) children. Our results were consistent with those of the literature revealing that the ASD children displayed interest towards animate stimuli as did children with TD children. Interestingly, while the ASD children showed higher interest towards humans, e.g. their parent, than the TD children did, they showed less interest towards pet compared to the TD children. Our results suggested that animals are not inherently easy to decode for ASD children, in contrast with previous experiences where a pet was regarded as a more attractive partner, easier to be understood. At last, the ASD children changed more frequently their focus point than the TD children did. These differences may be explained by the reduced attention skills in ASD or the study's context. To conclude, larger exploratory studies in natural settings conducted beyond ordinary human to human interactions are crucial for better understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in social interactions in ASD.
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页码:83 / 93
页数:11
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