Both Self-Other Distinction and Overlap Enhance Visual Perspective-Taking in Children With Autism Spectrum Conditions

PURPOSE: Children with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) often face challenges in visual perspective-taking (VPT)—the ability to see the world from another’s perspective. These challenges may arise from their difficulties with self-other distinction/overlap. However, the impacts of self-other distinction/overlap on VPT in ASC children remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the effect of self-other distinction/overlap on the VPT performance of children with ASC and neurotypical (NT) children. METHODS: A sample of 24 ASC children (Mage = 6.27 years; 3 females) and 24 ability-matched NT children (Mage = 5.28 years; 6 females) completed a picture-comparison task and a VPT task under three conditions: control, self-other distinction, and self-other overlap. RESULTS: Results showed that, in the control condition, ASC children exhibited lower accuracy and more egocentric errors than NT children in the VPT task, confirming their VPT impairments. Moreover, unlike NT children, who only showed enhanced performance in the self-other distinction condition, ASC children showed improved VPT performance in both self-other distinction and overlap conditions. CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the significance of both self-other distinction and self-other overlap in improving VPT performance in ASC children. Considering the differential benefits from self-other distinction/overlap between the two groups, our study recommends that future interventions should explore and integrate approaches tailored to the traits of ASC children to promote their social cognition and adaptation.