Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism
Published on: March 27, 2012
Labelling faces as 'Autistic' reduces the inversion effect
Ciro Civile1, Eamon Colvin2, Hasan Siddiqui3
11 University of Exeter, UK.
Abstract:
Does the belief that a face belongs to an individual with autism affect recognition of that face? To address this question, we used the inversion effect as a marker of face recognition. In Experiment 1, participants completed a recognition task involving upright and inverted faces labelled as either 'regular' or 'autistic'. In reality, the faces presented in both conditions were identical. Results revealed a smaller inversion effect for faces labelled as autistic. Thus, simply labelling a face as 'autistic' disrupts recognition. Experiment 2 showed a larger inversion effect after the provision of humanizing versus dehumanizing information about faces labelled as 'autistic'. We suggest changes in the inversion effect could be used as a measure to study stigma within the context of objectification and dehumanization.
Related Concept Videos
Prosopagnosia
Labeling Emotion
Facial Feedback Hypothesis
Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
Autism Spectrum Disorder
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.
Halo Effect

