The responses of autistic children to the distress of others.

摘要: The behavior of preschool children from five groups (developmental language disordered, high-functioning autistic, low-functioning mentally retarded, and normally developing) were coded in three situations: presentation a nonsocial orienting stimulus (an unfamiliar noise) two social situations involving simulated distress on the part an adult with whom they playing. Cognitive level was correlated responsiveness to stimuli only for retarded (mentally autistic). Girls showed more prosocial than boys both situations, independent diagnosis. language-disordered mild subtle deficits. autistic pronounced deficits responding all situations. good awareness but moderately impaired their ability respond prosocially; rarely initiated behavior, did specific prompts. behavioral feature that marked groups, contrast other lack referencing; not tend look toward presence ambiguous stimulus. Results are discussed terms variability between among high- children, implications core autism.