Decision making in social situations among adolescents and adults with high functioning autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Background Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder were often described to be weak in social communication and behave differently when compared with neurotypically developed individuals. Previous research had tried to explain these behavioural differences with reference to their neuropsychological profiles. The present study aimed to examined how individuals with HFASD may perform differently in social situations when compared with NTD individuals. Methods Individuals with High-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (HFASD) were recruited from two local centres who specialised in providing services for this population. Neurotypically developed individuals were also recruited as control participants. They were examined by a 2x2 decision-making task. The participants were required to decide if they would tell on the wrongdoer when the wrongdoer was either a close friend or a stranger (social schema), or when the negative consequence of the wrongdoer or the innocent were presented (individual’s consequence). Nonverbal intelligence was also measured. Results Results showed that both groups showed a higher tendency to tell on the wrongdoer when the wrongdoer was a stranger rather than a close friend, and such effect was weaker for the HFASD group. Both group performed similarly when either negative consequence of the wrongdoer or the innocent was presented. Conclusions Individuals with HFASD may perform with a similar pattern as NTD individuals in social situations. Possible directions for future investigation on bridging the research findings to the naturalistic environment were suggested.