Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
08:42
A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research
Published on: July 31, 2017
Helping and cooperation in children with autism
Kristin Liebal1, Costanza Colombi, Sally J Rogers
1Department of Developmental and Comparative Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. kliebal@eva.mpg.de
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|August 19, 2007
Summary
Children with autism and developmental delay both helped in studies, but autistic children showed less success in cooperation and fewer attempts to re-engage adults, suggesting challenges with shared goals.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Neuroscience
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Background:
- Helping and cooperation are fundamental to human social interaction.
- Understanding social behaviors in neurodevelopmental conditions is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate helping and cooperation in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental delay (DD).
- To explore potential differences in social engagement and goal formation between these groups.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted involving children with ASD and DD.
- Study 1 assessed helping behaviors.
- Study 2 examined cooperative tasks and social re-engagement behaviors.
Main Results:
- Both groups of children demonstrated helping behaviors.
- Children with ASD showed less successful cooperation and fewer attempts to re-engage the adult when interaction ceased.
- This suggests potential difficulties in forming shared goals or intentions in children with ASD.
Conclusions:
- Children with ASD exhibit helping behaviors but may face challenges in successful cooperation and maintaining shared intentionality.
- Findings highlight the importance of prerequisite cognitive and motivational factors in social behavior for children with ASD.
- Further research is needed to understand the nuances of social interaction in autism spectrum disorder.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
01:26Modeling in Therapy
Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
01:24Operant Conditioning Intervention
Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
02:34Empathy
Some researchers suggest that altruism operates on empathy. Empathy is the capacity to understand another person’s perspective, to feel what he or she feels. An empathetic person makes an emotional connection with others and feels compelled to help (Batson, 1991). Empathy can be expressed in several ways, including cognitive, affective, and motor.
01:29Relationship with Other Adult Family Members and Siblings
Other adult family members and siblings play a crucial role in shaping children’s social and emotional development. While parents or primary caregivers are often the central figures in early attachment and socialization, other adults in a child’s life, such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles, can significantly influence developmental outcomes. These influences depend on each adult’s personality and may help compensate when a primary caregiver is emotionally distant or inconsistent. For...
01:25Learning Disabilities
Learning disabilities are cognitive disorders caused by neurological impairments that affect cognitive functions like language and reading, without indicating overall intellectual or developmental challenges. These disabilities differ from global intellectual or developmental disabilities as they are limited to distinct cognitive functions. Common learning disabilities include dysgraphia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia, each of which impacts unique aspects of learning.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...