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Thinking, fast and slow on the autism spectrum
1University of Bath, UK.
Autism : the International Journal of Research and Practice
|November 3, 2022
Summary
Autistic individuals tend to deliberate more than intuit. However, both autistic and non-autistic people can be prompted to use intuition when time is limited, suggesting a flexible thinking style.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
Background:
- Dual Process Theory posits two thinking styles: fast, intuitive (System 1) and slow, deliberative (System 2).
- Autistic individuals are hypothesized to predominantly use deliberative thinking, unlike non-autistic individuals who typically favor intuitive thinking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if autistic individuals' thinking style can be influenced by time constraints.
- To compare the intuitive and deliberative thinking patterns of autistic and non-autistic individuals under varying time pressures.
Main Methods:
- Participants (autistic and non-autistic) completed reasoning tasks with intuitive (incorrect) and deliberative (correct) answers.
- Time pressure was manipulated: a fast condition (rapid responses) and a slow condition (deliberate responses).
Main Results:
- Autistic participants produced more deliberative answers overall compared to non-autistic participants.
- Both groups showed a shift towards intuitive answers and away from deliberative answers in the fast time condition.
- This indicates that autistic individuals' thinking style is not fixed and can be influenced by situational demands.
Conclusions:
- Autistic individuals' tendency towards deliberation can be overcome with time pressure, revealing a capacity for intuitive thinking.
- Understanding these thinking styles has implications for supporting autistic individuals in social contexts and highlights cognitive strengths.
- Future research should explore methods to help autistic individuals utilize intuition when beneficial.
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