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Humor in high-functioning autistic adults.
M E Van Bourgondien1, G B Mesibov
1School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|September 1, 1987
Summary
Autistic adults in a social skills group told 87 unique jokes, primarily riddles with wordplay. This study shows autistic individuals enjoy diverse humor, enriching their lives.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Linguistics
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Background:
- Humor comprehension and production are complex cognitive and social skills.
- Understanding the nuances of humor in autistic adults can provide insights into social cognition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the types and developmental levels of jokes told by autistic adults.
- To explore the role and enjoyment of humor within this population.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 87 unique jokes told by nine autistic adults over 15 sessions.
- Categorization of jokes based on developmental levels and linguistic features.
Main Results:
- The majority of jokes were riddles, with a high prevalence of preriddles.
- Lexical and phonological ambiguity were common features in the jokes.
- Participants demonstrated enjoyment of a wide variety of humor.
Conclusions:
- Autistic adults utilize and appreciate diverse forms of humor, particularly riddles.
- Humor appears to be a significant and enriching aspect of life for autistic individuals.
- Findings contribute to understanding social communication in autism spectrum disorder.