Repository logo
 

Levels of Self-representation and Their Sociocognitive Correlates in Late-Diagnosed Autistic Adults.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Change log

Authors

Liu, CH 
Gregory, NJ 
Smith, P 
Baron-Cohen, S 

Abstract

The cognitive representation of oneself is central to other sociocognitive processes, including relations with others. It is reflected in faster, more accurate processing of self-relevant information, a "self-prioritisation effect" (SPE) which is inconsistent across studies in autism. Across two tasks with autistic and non-autistic participants, we explored the SPE and its relationship to autistic traits, mentalizing ability and loneliness. A SPE was intact in both groups, but together the two tasks suggested a reduced tendency of late-diagnosed autistic participants to differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar others and greater ease disengaging from the self-concept. Correlations too revealed a complex picture, which we attempt to explore and disentangle with reference to the inconsistency across self-processing studies in autism, highlighting implications for future research.

Description

Keywords

Loneliness, Mentalizing, Self-bias, Self-representation, Social cognition, Adult, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autistic Disorder, Cognition, Humans, Mentalization, Self Concept

Journal Title

J Autism Dev Disord

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0162-3257
1573-3432

Volume Title

52

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC