Seeing More Than Human: Autism and Anthropomorphic Theory of Mind

Frontiers in Psychology
Gray Atherton, Liam Cross

Abstract

Theory of mind (ToM) is defined as the process of taking another's perspective. Anthropomorphism can be seen as the extension of ToM to non-human entities. This review examines the literature concerning ToM and anthropomorphism in relation to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), specifically addressing the questions of how and why those on the spectrum both show an increased interest for anthropomorphism and may even show improved ToM abilities when judging the mental states of anthropomorphic characters. This review highlights that while individuals with ASD traditionally show deficits on a wide range of ToM tests, such as recognizing facial emotions, such ToM deficits may be ameliorated if the stimuli presented is cartoon or animal-like rather than in human form. Individuals with ASD show a greater interest in anthropomorphic characters and process the features of these characters using methods typically reserved for human stimuli. Personal accounts of individuals with ASD also suggest they may identify more closely with animals than other humans. It is shown how the social motivations hypothesized to underlie the anthropomorphizing of non-human targets may lead those on the spectrum to seek social connections and...Continue Reading

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Citations

Nov 22, 2018·The British Journal of Developmental Psychology·Deniz Tahiroglu, Marjorie Taylor
May 17, 2019·The Journal of Genetic Psychology·Gray Atherton, Liam Cross
Aug 28, 2019·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Liam CrossGray Atherton
Oct 12, 2018·Autism : the International Journal of Research and Practice·Gray AthertonLiam Cross
Aug 14, 2018·Autism : the International Journal of Research and Practice·Rebekah C White, Anna Remington
Nov 30, 2018·Frontiers in Psychology·Rachel L Severson, Shailee R Woodard
Aug 28, 2021·Frontiers in Psychology·Gray Atherton, Liam Cross

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