Social Preferences and Perceived Intentions. An experiment with Normally Developing and Autistic Spectrum Disorders Subjects

TitleSocial Preferences and Perceived Intentions. An experiment with Normally Developing and Autistic Spectrum Disorders Subjects
Publication TypeWorking Paper
Year of Publication2010
AuthorsPelligra, V, Isoni, A, Fadda, R, Doneddu, I
Number2010_10
Keywordsautism, intentionality, social preferences, theory of mind
Abstract

Models of social preferences explain departures from pure self-interest as a
consequence of either outcome-based or intention-based other-regarding motives.
Various experimental studies lend support to the conclusion that subjects behave as
if they conditioned their behaviour on the perceived intentions of others. We
present a new experiment that explores this as if clause by making the ability to
detect intentions a treatment variable. We compare normally developing children
with autistic children – typically unable to perceive intentions – and find differences
consistent with the hypothesis that behaviour responds to intentions, especially if
unkind.

Citation Key2706
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