ERIC Number: EJ983173
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Nov
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0162-3257
EISSN: N/A
Reasoning on the Basis of Fantasy Content: Two Studies with High-Functioning Autistic Adolescents
Morsanyi, Kinga; Handley, Simon J.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, v42 n11 p2297-2311 Nov 2012
Reasoning about problems with empirically false content can be hard, as the inferences that people draw are heavily influenced by their background knowledge. However, presenting empirically false premises in a fantasy context helps children and adolescents to disregard their beliefs, and to reason on the basis of the premises. The aim of the present experiments was to see if high-functioning adolescents with autism are able to utilize fantasy context to the same extent as typically developing adolescents when they reason about empirically false premises. The results indicate that problems with engaging in pretence in autism persist into adolescence, and this hinders the ability of autistic individuals to disregard their beliefs when empirical knowledge is irrelevant. (Contains 4 footnotes, 6 tables, and 2 figures.)
Descriptors: Adolescents, Autism, Inferences, Fantasy, Cognitive Processes, Logical Thinking, Knowledge Level
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A