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Maguire K, Warman H, Blumenfeld F, Langdon PE. The relationship between psychopathy and autism: a systematic review and narrative synthesis. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1375170. [PMID: 38600985 PMCID: PMC11004474 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1375170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and methods The aim of this systematic review was to synthesise research examining the relationship between autism and psychopathy to: (a) better understand the relationship between these two constructs, and (b) describe the clinical manifestation of the two when they co-occur. A systematic search of the literature returned 36 studies. Results Across all ages, autistic individuals and those with elevated autistic traits but no autistic diagnoses appeared to have increased callous and unemotional traits or psychopathy relative to the general population. Several studies evidenced that although both constructs are associated with empathetic dysfunction, the underlying mechanisms differ. In adults, psychopathy/psychopathic traits were associated with diminished affective empathy and intact cognitive empathy, whilst the opposite was seen autistic adults and those with elevated autistic traits. In children, those with autistic traits or a diagnosis of autism had diminished cognitive empathy, but not affective empathy, while the relationship between callous and unemotional traits/psychopathy and empathy amongst children was less clear. The co-occurrence of autism and psychopathy was seen to lead to additional empathic and cognitive impairment, but findings were mixed making it challenging to clearly describe the clinical manifestation. Conclusion There remains a paucity of research investigating the interaction between autism and psychopathy and included studies were characterised by multiple measurement difficulties. Attention should be directed toward developing better methods for identifying psychopathic traits in autistic individuals to advance our understanding of the relationship between autism and psychopathy to allow for the development of appropriate care pathways for this population. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=413672, identifier CRD42023413672.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Maguire
- School of Health and Social Care, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom
| | - Hayley Warman
- School of Health and Social Care, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom
| | - Frances Blumenfeld
- School of Health and Social Care, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom
| | - Peter E. Langdon
- Centre for Research in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (CIDD), University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership National Health Service (NHS) Trust, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Worcestershire Health and Care National Health Service (NHS) Trust, Worcester, United Kingdom
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2
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Nasello JA, Triffaux JM. The role of empathy in trolley problems and variants: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 62:1753-1781. [PMID: 37314211 DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The role of empathy in morality is a subject of ongoing scientific debate due to the lack of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on this topic. To address this gap, we conducted a PRISMA-based systematic quantitative review to investigate the role of empathy in moral judgements, decision-making, and inclinations using trolley problems and variants, which are popular types of moral dilemmas that explore utilitarianism and deontology. We searched for articles in four databases (PsycINFO, Pubmed, WorldWideScience, and Scopus) and performed citation searches. Out of 661 records, we selected 34 that studied the associations between empathy and moral judgements, moral decision-making, and/or moral inclinations. Six meta-analyses and systematic reviews of these records consistently showed small to moderate associations between affective empathy and these moral parameters, particularly in personal moral dilemmas involving intentional harm (although some approaches highlighted more complex associations between these parameters). Regarding other empathy domains, most studies found limited or insignificant links between cognitive empathy domains and moral judgements, decision-making, and inclinations. We discuss the nuances and implications of these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian A Nasello
- Psychiatric Day Hospital "La Clé", Liège, Belgium
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Jean-Marc Triffaux
- Psychiatric Day Hospital "La Clé", Liège, Belgium
- Department of Psychiatry, Medicine, University of Liège, CHU of Liège, Liège, Belgium
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3
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Jayashankar A, Aziz-Zadeh L. Disgust Processing and Potential Relationships with Behaviors in Autism. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2023; 25:465-478. [PMID: 37672122 PMCID: PMC10627949 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-023-01445-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW While there are reports of differences in emotion processing in autism, it is less understood whether the emotion of disgust, in particular, plays a significant role in these effects. Here, we review literature on potential disgust processing differences in autism and its possible associations with autistic traits. RECENT FINDINGS In autism, there is evidence for differences in physical disgust processing, pica behaviors, attention away from other's disgust facial expressions, and differences in neural activity related to disgust processing. In typically developing individuals, disgust processing is related to moral processing, but modulated by individual differences in interoception and alexithymia. Autistic individuals may experience atypical disgust, which may lead to difficulty avoiding contaminants and affect socio-emotional processing. In autism, such outcomes may lead to increased occurrences of illness, contribute to gastrointestinal issues, diminish vicarious learning of disgust expression and behaviors, and potentially contribute to differences in processes related to moral reasoning, though further research is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Jayashankar
- USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
- Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
| | - Lisa Aziz-Zadeh
- USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
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Jayashankar A, Bynum B, Butera C, Kilroy E, Harrison L, Aziz-Zadeh L. Connectivity differences between inferior frontal gyrus and mentalizing network in autism as compared to developmental coordination disorder and non-autistic youth. Cortex 2023; 167:115-131. [PMID: 37549452 PMCID: PMC10543516 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2023.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Prior studies have compared neural connectivity during mentalizing tasks in autism (ASD) to non-autistic individuals and found reduced connectivity between the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and mentalizing regions. However, given that the IFG is involved in motor processing, and about 80% of autistic individuals have motor-related difficulties, it is necessary to explore if these differences are specific to ASD or instead similar across other developmental motor disorders, such as developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Participants (29 ASD, 20 DCD, 31 typically developing [TD]; ages 8-17) completed a mentalizing task in the fMRI scanner, where they were asked to think about why someone was performing an action. Results indicated that the ASD group, as compared to both TD and DCD groups, showed significant functional connectivity differences when mentalizing about other's actions. The left IFG seed revealed ASD connectivity differences with the: bilateral temporoparietal junction (TPJ), left insular cortex, and bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Connectivity differences using the right IFG seed revealed ASD differences in the: left insula, and right DLPFC. These results indicate that connectivity differences between the IFG, mentalizing regions, emotion and motor processing regions are specific to ASD and not a result of potentially co-occurring motor differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Jayashankar
- Center for Neuroscience of Embodied Cognition (CeNEC), Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Brittany Bynum
- Center for Neuroscience of Embodied Cognition (CeNEC), Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christiana Butera
- Center for Neuroscience of Embodied Cognition (CeNEC), Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Emily Kilroy
- Center for Neuroscience of Embodied Cognition (CeNEC), Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Laura Harrison
- Center for Neuroscience of Embodied Cognition (CeNEC), Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lisa Aziz-Zadeh
- Center for Neuroscience of Embodied Cognition (CeNEC), Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Nasello JA, Dardenne B, Hansenne M, Blavier A, Triffaux JM. Moral Decision-Making in Trolley Problems and Variants: How Do Participants' Perspectives, Borderline Personality Traits, and Empathy Predict Choices? THE JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2023:1-21. [PMID: 37205791 DOI: 10.1080/00223980.2023.2206604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to demonstrate and extend the causal effect of participants' perspectives on moral decision-making using trolley problems and variants. Additionally, we investigated whether empathy and borderline (BDL) personality traits predicted participants' choices in these scenarios. We used both a classical trolley problem (a causing harm scenario) and an everyday trolley-like problem (a causing inconvenience scenario). Participants (N = 427, women: 54%) completed BDL traits and empathy questionnaires and, randomly, the two types of trolley problems, presenting both three different perspectives. Our study provided strong evidence that the perspective from which participants were enrolled in the trolley problem caused significant changes in their moral decision-making. Furthermore, we found that affective empathy and BDL traits significantly predicted participants' decisions in the causing inconvenience scenario, while only BDL traits predicted choices in the causing harm scenario. This study was original in providing new experimental materials, causal results, and highlighting the significant influence of BDL traits and affective empathy on moral decision-making. These findings raised fundamental questions, which are further developed in the discussion section.
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Andrade G, Yasser Abdelraouf Abdelmonem K, Alqaderi N, Jamal Teir H, Banibella Abdelmagied Elamin A, Bedewy D. Depressive symptoms are associated with utilitarian responses in trolley dilemmas: a study amongst university students in the United Arab Emirates. ETHICS & BEHAVIOR 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/10508422.2023.2188595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Dalia Bedewy
- College of Medicine, Ajman University
- College of Humanities, Tanta University
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7
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Nasello JA, Dardenne B, Blavier A, Triffaux JM. Does empathy predict decision-making in everyday trolley-like problems? CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-01566-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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8
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Li S, Ding D, Lai J, Zhang X, Wu Z, Liu C. The Characteristics of Moral Judgment of Psychopaths: The Mediating Effect of the Deontological Tendency. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2020; 13:257-266. [PMID: 32210648 PMCID: PMC7069607 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s226722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Many studies explore the relationship between moral judgment and psychopathy in western culture, but the mechanism underlying this relationship remains unclear. By far, no research about this topic in the background of Chinese culture exists. In the current study, we adopt one of the creative process-dissociation approaches to explore the relationship between the psychopath and moral judgment. Methods Adopt the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathic Scale, the Chinese version of Interpersonal Reactivity and Process-dissociation approach to explore the relationship between the psychopath and moral judgment. Results Traditional utilitarian moral score of the high psychopathy group are significantly higher than that of low psychopathy group (t= 2.97, p<0.05), people with high psychopathy utilitarian tendency U factor score and people with low psychopathy have no significant difference (F= 0.85, p = 0.36). Conclusion Individuals with high psychopathy tend to make fewer deontological moral judgments because of their decreased deontological tendencies rather than their increased utilitarian tendencies. They may make more acceptance choices not to increase the well-being of the majority of people, but because of their increased acceptance of hurting others in the moral dilemma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenglan Li
- Department of Psychology, School of Education Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, People's Republic of China.,Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Daoqun Ding
- Department of Psychology, School of Education Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, People's Republic of China.,Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Ji Lai
- Department of Psychology, School of Education Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangyi Zhang
- Department of Psychology, School of Education Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, People's Republic of China.,Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhihui Wu
- Department of Psychology, School of Education Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Criminal Justice, Ningxia Police Vocational College, Ningxia, People's Republic of China
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Dance promotes positive benefits for negative symptoms in autism spectrum disorder (ASD): A systematic review. Complement Ther Med 2020; 49:102299. [PMID: 32147081 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Revised: 09/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized as a neurodevelopmental disorder with stereotyped and repetitive behaviors. Dance practice can elicit esthesia to stimulate the communication process through the notion of the phenomenal body that is recognized in an expressive and symbolic space. OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review to identify how dance promotes positive benefits for the negative symptoms in ASD. METHOD We formulated the research question based on PICO: "What is the influence of dance on negative symptoms in individuals with autism spectrum disorder?". Databases were searched in March 2019 and included PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, PsycInfo and Web of Science. RESULTS We identified 9,350 studies of which five were selected for our review (a total of 266 individuals). All included studies showed an influence of dance on negative symptoms, including empathy, emotional expression, body awareness, behavior, and psychological wellbeing that impact on social reciprocity, and consequently the communication process, in ASD. CONCLUSIONS Dance practice may contribute to body awareness and social involvement using techniques that provide mirroring, synchronization, rhythm, and reciprocity in adults with normal to high-functioning ASD.
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Song Y, Nie T, Shi W, Zhao X, Yang Y. Empathy Impairment in Individuals With Autism Spectrum Conditions From a Multidimensional Perspective: A Meta-Analysis. Front Psychol 2019; 10:1902. [PMID: 31649570 PMCID: PMC6794557 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Although empathy has always been considered to be impaired in individuals with autism spectrum conditions (ASCs), the relevant findings have been inconsistent. The present meta-analysis aims to determine which empathy components are impaired and how culture, gender, and age moderate such empathy impairment. Methods: By using “Autism,” “Asperger Syndrome,” “Empathy,” and related Chinese synonyms as keywords, we searched the databases of Weipu, Wanfang, CNKI, Web of Science, Science Direct, SpringerLink, and Elsevier through “subject” and “keyword” searches. We also conducted a manual search according to the references. In total, 51 studies from Eastern and Western countries were included in this meta-analysis, which comprised 144 independent effects, 2,095 individuals with ASCs and 2,869 controls without ASCs. For the retrieved data, Hedge's g was taken as the quantitative measure of effect, and CMA V2.0 software was used for publication bias tests (by using Rosenthal's Classic Failsafe-N and Egger's methods), heterogeneity tests (by using a Q-test, I2-test, and H-test) and a moderating effect test (by using a univariate regression model). Results: The results showed that the empathy impairment evident in individuals with ASCs is component specific; that is, trait-cognitive empathy, trait-empathic concern, state-cognitive empathy, and state-empathic concern are impaired, whereas state-empathic accuracy remains intact, and trait-empathic accuracy is superior to the trait-empathic accuracy in neurotypical individuals. The univariate regression model showed that gender moderates the impairment of the trait-empathic concern, trait-empathic accuracy, and state-cognitive empathy in autistic individuals and that age moderates the impairment of the trait-cognitive empathy, trait-empathic accuracy, state-empathic concern, and state-empathic accuracy in autistic individuals. However, culture does not moderate any empathy components (trait-cognitive empathy, trait-empathic concern, or state-cognitive empathy) involved in the present meta-analysis. Conclusions: These findings contribute to ending the controversy over the empathic integrity of individuals with ASCs and shed some light on future research about the empathy impairment of autistic individuals. More specifically, subsequent studies should distinguish specific empathy components and consider the role of gender and age when demonstrating empathy impairment in individuals with ASCs. Moreover, related studies based on Asian collectivist cultural samples and female samples should be further enriched.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youming Song
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingting Nie
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wendian Shi
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xudong Zhao
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongyong Yang
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
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Margoni F, Guglielmetti G, Surian L. Brief Report: Young Children with Autism Can Generate Intent-Based Moral Judgments. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 49:5078-5085. [PMID: 31489539 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04212-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Past research suggested that, due to difficulties in mentalistic reasoning, individuals with autism tend to base their moral judgments on the outcome of agents' actions rather than on agents' intentions. In a novel task, aimed at reducing the processing demands required to represent intentions and generate a judgment, autistic children were presented with agents that accidentally harmed or attempted but failed to harm others and were asked to judge those agents. Most of the times, children blamed the character who attempted to harm and exculpated the accidental wrongdoer, suggesting that they generated intent-based moral judgments. These findings suggest that processing limitations rather than lack of conceptual competence explain the poor performance reported in previous research on moral judgment in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Margoni
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Corso Bettini 31, 38068, Rovereto, TN, Italy.
| | | | - Luca Surian
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Corso Bettini 31, 38068, Rovereto, TN, Italy.
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Jameel L, Vyas K, Bellesi G, Crawford S, Channon S. Thinking about other's mistakes: contrasting patterns of performance in groups high or low in autistic or psychopathic traits. Cogn Neuropsychiatry 2019; 24:369-385. [PMID: 31522604 DOI: 10.1080/13546805.2019.1667317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Counterfactual thinking refers to thoughts such as, "What if … ?" or "If only … " that hypothesise about how past events might have turned out differently. It is a functional process, allowing us to reflect upon and solve problems, and to evoke appropriate responses. It is thought to involve both cognitive and emotional processes, and is linked to the development of false belief and moral emotions. Methods: The present study compared responses to a novel task, "Counterfactual Judgments", in students who scored high or low on self-report measures of autistic or psychopathic traits, two conditions putatively associated with deficits in empathy. Results: Contrasting patterns of performance were revealed: those with high versus low autistic traits gave harsher ratings of blame for others' mistakes and showed reduced sensitivity to punitive counterfactual alternatives, whereas those with high versus low psychopathic traits gave lower ratings for moral judgments of regret and guilt. A self-report questionnaire measure of empathy also provided some evidence of reduced empathic processing in both the high trait groups. Conclusions: The findings are considered in the light of the possible contributions of cognitive versus emotional processes to counterfactual thinking. The possible implications for managing social dysfunction in clinical populations are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Jameel
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London , London , UK
| | - Karishma Vyas
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London , London , UK
| | - Giulia Bellesi
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London , London , UK
| | - Sarah Crawford
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London , London , UK
| | - Shelley Channon
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London , London , UK
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Personality correlates and utilitarian judgments in the everyday context: Psychopathic traits and differential effects of empathy, social dominance orientation, and dehumanization beliefs. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2019.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Garon M, Forgeot d’Arc B, Lavallée MM, Estay EV, Beauchamp MH. Visual Encoding of Social Cues Contributes to Moral Reasoning in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Eye-Tracking Study. Front Hum Neurosci 2018; 12:409. [PMID: 30374296 PMCID: PMC6196239 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2018.00409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Eye-tracking studies suggest that visual encoding is important for social processes such as socio-moral reasoning. Alterations to the visual encoding of faces, for example, have been linked to the social phenotype of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and are associated with social and communication impairments. Yet, people with ASD often perform similarly to neurotypical participants on measures of moral reasoning, supporting the hypothesis of differential mechanisms of moral reasoning in ASD. The objective of this study was to document visual encoding and moral reasoning in ASD and neurotypical individuals using a visual, ecological, sociomoral reasoning paradigm paired with eye-tracking. Two groups (ASD, Control) matched for age and IQ completed the SoMoral task, a set of picture situations describing everyday moral dilemmas, while their eye movements and pupil dilation were recorded. Moral understanding, decision-making, and justification were recorded. Participants with ASD presented a longer time to first fixation on faces. They also understood fewer dilemmas and produced fewer socially adaptive responses. Despite a similar average level of moral maturity, the justifications produced by participants with ASD were not distributed in the same way as the neurotypical participants. Visual encoding was a significant predictor of moral decision-making and moral justification for both groups. The results are discussed in the context of alternative mechanisms of moral reasoning in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Garon
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Marie M. Lavallée
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Evelyn V. Estay
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centro de Desarrollo de Tecnologías de Inclusión, Escuela de Psicología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Miriam H. Beauchamp
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
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