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Published on: December 7, 2018
Social Motivation in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Mixed-Methods Exploration Using Eye-Tracking, Behavioral Tasks,
Jiaxi Li1, Kathy Kar-Man Shum1
1The University of Hong Kong, China.
Summary
Autistic individuals show diminished social motivation, particularly intrinsic motivation, but value connection through shared activities and stable social networks, highlighting diverse expressions of social engagement.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Social Psychology
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Background:
- Social motivation diminishment is a core feature of autism, but prior research has yielded inconsistent findings.
- Existing studies often overlook the heterogeneity in social motivational expressions among autistic individuals.
- Understanding nuanced social motivation is crucial for effective interventions and support for autistic populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare social motivation in autistic and non-autistic individuals using a mixed-methods approach.
- To investigate the specific dimensions of social motivation affected in autism, including intrinsic motivation and effort for social rewards.
- To explore the subjective experiences and preferences of autistic individuals regarding social connection and friendship.
Main Methods:
- Mixed-methods study involving 104 autistic and 192 non-autistic participants (adolescents and young adults).
- Utilized eye-tracking, behavioral tasks, self- and parent-reports, and qualitative analysis of open-ended responses.
- Assessed social motivation through measures of stimulus orientation, effort for social rewards, and subjective experiences.
Main Results:
- Autistic participants exhibited lower self-determined motivation, driven by reduced intrinsic motivation and identified regulation.
- Eye-tracking revealed decreased orientation to social stimuli, and behavioral tasks showed reduced willingness to exert effort for social rewards.
- Qualitative data indicated that many autistic individuals value friendship and seek connection via shared activities, preferring smaller, stable social networks.
Conclusions:
- Group-level quantitative findings align with social motivation theory but highlight significant heterogeneity in autistic social motivation.
- Diminished social motivation in autism may arise from contextual challenges rather than uniform amotivation, emphasizing subjective experiences.
- The study underscores the need for inclusive assessments that recognize diverse motivational expressions and prioritize autistic individuals' perspectives.
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