Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 10, 2026
05:32
Comparing Eye-tracking Data of Children with High-functioning ASD, Comorbid ADHD, and of a Control Watching Social Videos
Published on: December 7, 2018
9.5K
Deliberate and Affective Driven Decision-Making. A 10-Year Longitudinal Study of Decision-Making in Autism
Erik Winther Skogli1,2, Per Normann Andersen2, Ingrid Nesdal Fossum1,3
1Division Mental Health Care, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Lillehammer, Norway.
Developmental Neuropsychology
|November 28, 2025
Summary
Autistic individuals show a consistent risk-averse decision-making style from childhood to adulthood, influenced by internalizing symptoms. Both autistic and non-autistic individuals improve decision-making skills over time.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Cognitive psychology
- Developmental psychology
Background:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) impacts social communication and behavior.
- Decision-making development in autistic individuals is not fully understood.
- Internalizing symptoms may influence cognitive strategies in autism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental changes in decision-making in autistic individuals.
- To compare decision-making strategies between autistic and non-autistic individuals.
- To examine the role of internalizing symptoms in decision-making.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study with 38 autistic and 50 non-autistic participants.
- Assessment at baseline (mean age 11.8 years), 2-year, and 10-year follow-up.
- Evaluation of decision-making performance and strategy.
Main Results:
- Similar improvements in decision-making performance over time for both groups.
- Autistic participants consistently displayed a more risk-averse decision-making style.
- Risk aversion in autistic individuals linked to deliberate thinking in advantageous and internalizing symptoms in disadvantageous situations.
Conclusions:
- Autistic individuals exhibit a distinct, risk-averse decision-making trajectory.
- Internalizing symptoms significantly influence decision-making in disadvantageous contexts for autistic individuals.
- Understanding these patterns is crucial for targeted interventions in autism.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
905
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.
905
01:26Modeling in Therapy
364
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...
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
364
02:20Longitudinal Research
13.0K
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
13.0K
01:20Decision Making
866
Decision-making is a fundamental cognitive process that involves evaluating alternatives and selecting among them. This process can range from simple choices, such as deciding what to wear, to complex decisions, like choosing a major in college or a career path. The complexity of the decision often dictates the approach we use, which can be broadly categorized into two types: automatic and controlled decision-making.
Automatic decision-making is fast, intuitive, and relies on gut feelings...
Automatic decision-making is fast, intuitive, and relies on gut feelings...
866
01:26Longitudinal Studies
449
Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...
449
01:24Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition
263
A revisionist approach to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development has brought new insights that challenge and reinterpret his established ideas. Piaget proposed that the formal operational stage, emerging in adolescence, represents the culmination of cognitive maturity. During this stage, individuals are said to develop abstract thinking, engage in systematic problem-solving, and show a form of egocentrism, believing others are as preoccupied with their behavior as they are...
263