Η θεωρία του νου στο σύνδρομο του αυτισμού: κατανοούν τα παιδία με αυτισμό τις προθέσεις των άλλων;

Περίληψη

The aim of the present study was to examine whether children with autism understand intentions. Subjects included children and adolescents with autism, children and adolescents with mental retardation and tow groups of normally developing children with a mean age of 4- and 6-years respectively. The clinical groups and the 6-year old children were identified on menial age. The experimental tasks of the study tested for: subjects' ability to: (1) distinguish between intended and accidental acts and (2) understand unsatisfied intentions. Results supported that in normal development children begin to comprehend these aspects of intention at the age of 6 years. It was also found that the majority of autistic subjects fail to represent the intentions in the mind of others. Mentally retarded subjects' good performance demonstrates that success on the tasks was not dependent on mental age.