Skip to main content
Top
Gepubliceerd in:

01-01-2010 | Original Paper

Impaired Competence for Pretense in Children with Autism: Exploring Potential Cognitive Predictors

Auteur: Sally Bigham

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders | Uitgave 1/2010

Log in om toegang te krijgen
share
DELEN

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

  • Optie A:
    Klik op de rechtermuisknop op de link en selecteer de optie “linkadres kopiëren”
  • Optie B:
    Deel de link per e-mail

Abstract

Lack of pretense in children with autism has been explained by a number of theoretical explanations, including impaired mentalising, impaired response inhibition, and weak central coherence. This study aimed to empirically test each of these theories. Children with autism (n = 60) were significantly impaired relative to controls (n = 65) when interpreting pretense, thereby supporting a competence deficit hypothesis. They also showed impaired mentalising and response inhibition, but superior local processing indicating weak central coherence. Regression analyses revealed that mentalising significantly and independently predicted pretense. The results are interpreted as supporting the impaired mentalising theory and evidence against competing theories invoking impaired response inhibition or a local processing bias. The results of this study have important implications for treatment and intervention.
Voetnoten
1
The term “metarepresentation” has been used to refer to different representational abilities. In referring to the ability to represent a representation, the term “secondary” representation (as used by Perner 1991) is used throughout this paper.
 
2
Preliminary analyses indicated that performances within groups did not differ significantly between the self- and other-false belief tests therefore all between groups analyses were performed on a self- + other-false belief composite score.
 
Literatuur
go back to reference American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text revised) (DSM-IV-TR). Washington, DC: APA. American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text revised) (DSM-IV-TR). Washington, DC: APA.
go back to reference Baron-Cohen, S. (1987). Autism and symbolic play. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 5, 139–148. Baron-Cohen, S. (1987). Autism and symbolic play. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 5, 139–148.
go back to reference Baron-Cohen, S. (1989). The autistic child’s theory of mind: A case of specific developmental delay. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 30, 285–297.CrossRefPubMed Baron-Cohen, S. (1989). The autistic child’s theory of mind: A case of specific developmental delay. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 30, 285–297.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Baron-Cohen, S., Cox, A., Baird, G., Swettenham, J., Nightingale, N., Morgan, K., et al. (1996). Psychological markers of autism at 18 months of age in a large population. British Journal of Psychiatry, 168, 158–163.CrossRefPubMed Baron-Cohen, S., Cox, A., Baird, G., Swettenham, J., Nightingale, N., Morgan, K., et al. (1996). Psychological markers of autism at 18 months of age in a large population. British Journal of Psychiatry, 168, 158–163.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Bigham, S. (2008). Comprehension of pretence in children with autism. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 26, 265–280.CrossRef Bigham, S. (2008). Comprehension of pretence in children with autism. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 26, 265–280.CrossRef
go back to reference Bigham, S., & Bourchier-Sutton, A. (2007). The decontextualization of form and function in the development of pretence. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 25, 335–351.CrossRef Bigham, S., & Bourchier-Sutton, A. (2007). The decontextualization of form and function in the development of pretence. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 25, 335–351.CrossRef
go back to reference Boucher, J. (2009). The autistic spectrum: Characteristics, causes and practical issues. London: Sage. Boucher, J. (2009). The autistic spectrum: Characteristics, causes and practical issues. London: Sage.
go back to reference Dunn, L. M., Dunn, L. M., Whetton, C., & Pintilie, D. (1982). British picture vocabulary scale. Windsor: NFER-NELSON. Dunn, L. M., Dunn, L. M., Whetton, C., & Pintilie, D. (1982). British picture vocabulary scale. Windsor: NFER-NELSON.
go back to reference Frith, U. (1989). Autism: Explaining the enigma. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing. Frith, U. (1989). Autism: Explaining the enigma. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing.
go back to reference Frith, U. (2003). Autism: Explaining the enigma (2nd ed.). Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing. Frith, U. (2003). Autism: Explaining the enigma (2nd ed.). Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing.
go back to reference Haight, W., & Miller, P. J. (1992). The development of everyday pretend play: A longitudinal study of mothers’ participation. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 38(3), 331–349. Haight, W., & Miller, P. J. (1992). The development of everyday pretend play: A longitudinal study of mothers’ participation. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 38(3), 331–349.
go back to reference Happé, F., & Booth, R. (2008). The power of the positive: Revisiting weak coherence in autism spectrum disorders. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 61(1), 50–63.CrossRefPubMed Happé, F., & Booth, R. (2008). The power of the positive: Revisiting weak coherence in autism spectrum disorders. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 61(1), 50–63.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Happé, F., & Frith, U. (2006). The weak coherence account: Detail-focused cognitive style in autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(1), 5–25.CrossRefPubMed Happé, F., & Frith, U. (2006). The weak coherence account: Detail-focused cognitive style in autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(1), 5–25.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Harris, P. L. (1993). Pretending and planning. In S. Baron-Cohen, H. Tager-Flusberg, & D. Cohen (Eds.), Understanding other minds: Perspectives from autism (pp. 228–246). Oxford: Oxford university press. Harris, P. L. (1993). Pretending and planning. In S. Baron-Cohen, H. Tager-Flusberg, & D. Cohen (Eds.), Understanding other minds: Perspectives from autism (pp. 228–246). Oxford: Oxford university press.
go back to reference Hughes, C. (1996). Control of action and thought: Normal development and dysfunction in autism: A research note. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 37(2), 229–236.CrossRefPubMed Hughes, C. (1996). Control of action and thought: Normal development and dysfunction in autism: A research note. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 37(2), 229–236.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Jarrold, C., Boucher, J., & Smith, P. K. (1994a). Executive function deficits and the pretend play of children with autism: A research note. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 35(8), 1473–1482.CrossRefPubMed Jarrold, C., Boucher, J., & Smith, P. K. (1994a). Executive function deficits and the pretend play of children with autism: A research note. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 35(8), 1473–1482.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Jarrold, C., Butler, D. W., Cottington, E. M., & Jimenez, F. (2000). Linking theory of mind and central coherence bias in autism and in the general population. Developmental Psychology, 36(1), 126–138.CrossRefPubMed Jarrold, C., Butler, D. W., Cottington, E. M., & Jimenez, F. (2000). Linking theory of mind and central coherence bias in autism and in the general population. Developmental Psychology, 36(1), 126–138.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Jarrold, C., Smith, P. K., Boucher, J., & Harris, P. L. (1994b). Comprehension of pretense in children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 24, 433–455.CrossRefPubMed Jarrold, C., Smith, P. K., Boucher, J., & Harris, P. L. (1994b). Comprehension of pretense in children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 24, 433–455.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Kavanaugh, R. D., & Harris, P. L. (1994). Imagining the outcome of pretend transformations: Assessing the competence of normal children and children with autism. Developmental Psychology, 30(6), 847–854.CrossRef Kavanaugh, R. D., & Harris, P. L. (1994). Imagining the outcome of pretend transformations: Assessing the competence of normal children and children with autism. Developmental Psychology, 30(6), 847–854.CrossRef
go back to reference Leslie, A. M. (1987). Pretense and representation: The origins of “Theory of Mind”. Psychological Review, 94(4), 412–426.CrossRef Leslie, A. M. (1987). Pretense and representation: The origins of “Theory of Mind”. Psychological Review, 94(4), 412–426.CrossRef
go back to reference Leslie, A. M., & Polizzi, P. (1998). Inhibitory processing in the false belief task: Two conjectures. Developmental Science, 1(2), 247–253.CrossRef Leslie, A. M., & Polizzi, P. (1998). Inhibitory processing in the false belief task: Two conjectures. Developmental Science, 1(2), 247–253.CrossRef
go back to reference Leslie, A. M., & Roth, D. (1993). What autism teaches us about metarepresentation. In S. Baron-Cohen, H. Tager-Flusberg, & D. J. Cohen (Eds.), Understanding other minds (pp. 83–111). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. Leslie, A. M., & Roth, D. (1993). What autism teaches us about metarepresentation. In S. Baron-Cohen, H. Tager-Flusberg, & D. J. Cohen (Eds.), Understanding other minds (pp. 83–111). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
go back to reference Lewis, V., & Boucher, J. (1988). Spontaneous, instructed and elicited play in relatively able autistic children. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 6, 325–339. Lewis, V., & Boucher, J. (1988). Spontaneous, instructed and elicited play in relatively able autistic children. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 6, 325–339.
go back to reference Lillard, A. S. (2002). Pretend play and cognitive development. In U. Goswami (Ed.), Handbook of cognitive development (pp. 188–205). London: Blackwell.CrossRef Lillard, A. S. (2002). Pretend play and cognitive development. In U. Goswami (Ed.), Handbook of cognitive development (pp. 188–205). London: Blackwell.CrossRef
go back to reference Miller, G., & Chapman, J. (2001). Misunderstanding analysis of covariance. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 110(1), 40–48.CrossRefPubMed Miller, G., & Chapman, J. (2001). Misunderstanding analysis of covariance. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 110(1), 40–48.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Morgan, B., Maybery, M., & Durkin, K. (2003). Weak central coherence, poor joint attention, and low verbal ability: Independent deficits in early autism. Developmental Psychology, 39(4), 646–656.CrossRefPubMed Morgan, B., Maybery, M., & Durkin, K. (2003). Weak central coherence, poor joint attention, and low verbal ability: Independent deficits in early autism. Developmental Psychology, 39(4), 646–656.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Mottron, L., Burack, J., Stauder, J., & Robaey, P. (1999). Perceptual processing among high-functioning persons with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 40(2), 203–211.CrossRefPubMed Mottron, L., Burack, J., Stauder, J., & Robaey, P. (1999). Perceptual processing among high-functioning persons with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 40(2), 203–211.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Perner, J. (1991). Understanding the representational mind. MIT Press Perner, J. (1991). Understanding the representational mind. MIT Press
go back to reference Perner, J., Frith, U., Leslie, A. M., & Leekham, S. R. (1989). Exploration of the autistic child’s theory of mind: Knowledge, belief, and communication. Child Development, 60, 689–700.CrossRef Perner, J., Frith, U., Leslie, A. M., & Leekham, S. R. (1989). Exploration of the autistic child’s theory of mind: Knowledge, belief, and communication. Child Development, 60, 689–700.CrossRef
go back to reference Ricks, D. M., & Wing, L. (1975). Language, communication, and the use of symbols in normal and autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 5, 191–221.CrossRef Ricks, D. M., & Wing, L. (1975). Language, communication, and the use of symbols in normal and autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 5, 191–221.CrossRef
go back to reference Rochat, P., & Striano, T. (1999). Social-cognitive development in the first year. In P. Rochat (Ed.), Early social cognition: Understanding others in the first months of life. Mahwah, NJ, USA: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Rochat, P., & Striano, T. (1999). Social-cognitive development in the first year. In P. Rochat (Ed.), Early social cognition: Understanding others in the first months of life. Mahwah, NJ, USA: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
go back to reference Rutherford, M. D., Young, G. S., Hepburn, S., & Rogers, S. J. (2007). A longitudinal study of pretend play in autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37, 1024–1039.CrossRefPubMed Rutherford, M. D., Young, G. S., Hepburn, S., & Rogers, S. J. (2007). A longitudinal study of pretend play in autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37, 1024–1039.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Suddendorf, T., Fletcher-Flinn, C., & Johnston, L. (1999). Pantomime and theory of mind. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 160(1), 31–45.CrossRef Suddendorf, T., Fletcher-Flinn, C., & Johnston, L. (1999). Pantomime and theory of mind. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 160(1), 31–45.CrossRef
go back to reference Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2001). Using multivariate statistics (4th ed.). London: Allyn and Bacon. Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2001). Using multivariate statistics (4th ed.). London: Allyn and Bacon.
go back to reference Taylor, M., & Carlson, S. M. (1997). The relation between individual differences in fantasy and theory of mind. Child Development, 68(3), 436–455.CrossRefPubMed Taylor, M., & Carlson, S. M. (1997). The relation between individual differences in fantasy and theory of mind. Child Development, 68(3), 436–455.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Wimmer, H., & Perner, J. (1983). Beliefs about beliefs: Representation and constraining function of wrong beliefs in young children’s understanding of deception. Cognition, 13, 103–128.CrossRefPubMed Wimmer, H., & Perner, J. (1983). Beliefs about beliefs: Representation and constraining function of wrong beliefs in young children’s understanding of deception. Cognition, 13, 103–128.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Witkin, H. A., Oltman, P. K., Raskin, E., & Karp, S. A. (1971). A manual for the embedded figures test. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press. Witkin, H. A., Oltman, P. K., Raskin, E., & Karp, S. A. (1971). A manual for the embedded figures test. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
Metagegevens
Titel
Impaired Competence for Pretense in Children with Autism: Exploring Potential Cognitive Predictors
Auteur
Sally Bigham
Publicatiedatum
01-01-2010
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders / Uitgave 1/2010
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0820-6