Baron-Cohen Et Al Flashcards
Why did Baron-Cohen focus on adults rather than children?
Previous research showed ToM deficits in autistic children, but it was unclear whether high-functioning autistic adults also had difficulties in understanding others’ emotions.
What were the independent and dependent variables?
IV (Independent Variable): Whether the participant had Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome, typical development, or Tourette’s Syndrome.
DV (Dependent Variable): Performance on the Eyes Task (score on recognizing emotions from eye-region images).
How many participants were included in Baron-Cohen et al.’s study?
76
Why did Baron-Cohen include participants with Tourette’s Syndrome?
To check whether ToM deficits were unique to autism, since Tourette’s also affects neurological functioning but does not impair social understanding.
What did the Eyes Task involve?
Participants were shown 25 black-and-white photos of the eye region of different faces and had to select the correct emotion or mental state from two choices (e.g., “concerned” vs. “unconcerned”).
Why did Baron-Cohen choose to test only the eye region?
The eyes are crucial for social communication, and autistic individuals often struggle with eye contact and emotion recognition.
How were participants’ responses measured?
A score was given based on the number of correct answers, with a higher score indicating better Theory of Mind skills.
What was the purpose of including additional control tasks?
To ensure that any differences in performance were due to ToM deficits rather than other factors like IQ or basic facial recognition ability.
What was the aim of Baron-Cohen’s study?
The study aimed to test whether adults with autism or Asperger syndrome have an impaired Theory of Mind (ToM), using the “Reading the Mind in the Eyes” test.
What is Theory of Mind (ToM)?
Theory of Mind is the ability to understand that other people have their own thoughts, beliefs, and emotions, which may differ from one’s own.
What were the three participant groups in Baron-Cohen’s study?
Autism/Asperger Syndrome Group
Control Group (Neurotypical Adults)
Tourette’s Syndrome Group
Who made up the autism/Asperger syndrome group in Baron-Cohen’s study?
The group included 16 adults diagnosed with high-functioning autism or Asperger syndrome, recruited through doctors and support groups.
Who were the participants in the control group?
The control group consisted of 50 neurotypical adults from the general population in Cambridge, who had no known developmental conditions.
Who were the participants in the Tourette’s syndrome group?
The Tourette’s group included 10 adults diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome, recruited from a referral center in London.
Why did Baron-Cohen include a group with Tourette’s syndrome in the study?
To determine if ToM deficits were unique to autism or present in other neurodevelopmental disorders. Since Tourette’s affects social behavior but not ToM, it served as a useful comparison group.
What method was used in Baron-Cohen’s study?
The study used a quasi-experimental design with matched participants.
What is the “Reading the Mind in the Eyes” test?
A test where participants see 25 black-and-white photographs of eyes and must choose the correct emotion from four options. It measures ToM ability by assessing how well individuals can interpret emotions from subtle facial cues.
What is Happé’s Strange Stories Task, and why was it used?
This task involves short social stories where participants must infer characters’ thoughts and intentions. It was used to validate the Eyes Test findings/it as a measure of Tom
What was the purpose of the Basic Emotion Recognition Task?
This test ensured that participants could recognize basic emotions (e.g., happy, sad, angry) to rule out general emotion perception deficits as an explanation for poor ToM performance.
Why was the Gender Recognition Task included?
Participants identified the gender of the eyes in the photographs. This controlled for differences in facial feature processing that might affect results.
How did the autism/Asperger group perform on the Eyes Test?
They scored significantly lower than the control and Tourette’s groups, showing difficulty in identifying emotions from eye expressions.
How did the control and Tourette’s groups perform on the Eyes Test?
Both groups performed similarly well, suggesting that ToM deficits are specific to autism rather than being a general characteristic of neurodevelopmental conditions.
What do the results suggest about ToM deficits?
Since only the autism/Asperger group showed impairments, it supports the idea that ToM difficulties are a core feature of autism and not just a general cognitive deficit.
Did gender have any impact on the results?
Yes, women in the neurotypical group scored slightly higher than men, suggesting possible gender differences in ToM ability.
What was the conclusion of Baron-Cohen’s study?
The study concluded that adults with autism or Asperger syndrome have impaired Theory of Mind, even if they are high-functioning. This supports the idea that ToM deficits are a core feature of autism.
How did Baron-Cohen ensure the study was well-controlled?
He included comparison groups (neurotypical and Tourette’s), used standardized tasks, and controlled for factors like intelligence and facial processing abilities.
Does the study have real-world relevance?
Yes, the Eyes Test mimics real-world social perception challenges, making it relevant for understanding difficulties autistic individuals face in daily interactions.
Is Baron-Cohen’s study reliable?
Yes, it has been replicated with similar findings, demonstrating consistent results.
Why is the Eyes Test considered an artificial task?
It does not fully replicate real-life social interactions, where people interpret emotions using multiple cues (e.g., voice tone, body language).
Why is the sample size a limitation?
The autism group had only 16 participants, which is relatively small and may not be representative of the wider autistic population.
How might cultural bias affect the study’s findings?
The study only included British participants, meaning the results may not generalize to people from other cultures with different social norms.
How can the study be applied in education and therapy?
Findings can be used to develop ToM-based interventions, helping autistic individuals improve social understanding and emotional recognition.
