A friendly article: The qualitative investigation of anthropomorphism in autistic and nonautistic adults
<p><strong>Background:</strong> Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics to nonhuman agents. This common tendency is thought to be driven by a heightened motivation for social connection and may therefore be expected to be reduced in autistic individuals given t...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Mary Ann Liebert
2019
|
| _version_ | 1797080187033092096 |
|---|---|
| author | Negri, O White, R Remington, A |
| author_facet | Negri, O White, R Remington, A |
| author_sort | Negri, O |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | <p><strong>Background:</strong> Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics to nonhuman agents. This common tendency is thought to be driven by a heightened motivation for social connection and may therefore be expected to be reduced in autistic individuals given that this group has been claimed to demonstrate reduced social motivation in some settings. However, the subject of anthropomorphism in autism has not been studied extensively, and online forums, autobiographical accounts, and recent research on the topic suggest that, contrary to this expectation, anthropomorphism is commonly experienced by autistic individuals.</p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> We conducted semi-structured interviews with eight autistic and eight nonautistic adults, all who reported a tendency to anthropomorphize. We recorded, transcribed, and analyzed the interviews according to the thematic analysis framework with the objective of identifying similarities and differences in the lived experiences of anthropomorphism in autistic and nonautistic individuals. </p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> Individuals in both groups described anthropomorphism as comforting, promoting a sense of safety and friendship with, and feelings of empathy and sympathy toward, nonhuman agents. Autistic individuals stressed the important role anthropomorphized agents played in their life, particularly when growing up: easing loneliness and helping develop an understanding of emotions and relationships. Participants also expressed negative aspects of the phenomenon, with both autistic and nonautistic individuals worrying about anthropomorphized agents' feelings and well-being. For some individuals, such thoughts and feelings caused distress and were experienced as intrusive due to their involuntary nature.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Autistic and nonautistic adults showed very similar anthropomorphic patterns. Although preliminary in nature, our findings highlight characteristics of anthropomorphic experiences for autistic and nonautistic individuals, furthering our understanding of individual differences in social cognition. By illustrating the important role nonhuman agents may play in the lives of autistic individuals, our findings may also guide future research and practice. </p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T00:56:34Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:88463b22-81eb-4cf6-b621-f5b8ffb62a74 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T00:56:34Z |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publisher | Mary Ann Liebert |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:88463b22-81eb-4cf6-b621-f5b8ffb62a742022-03-26T22:16:18ZA friendly article: The qualitative investigation of anthropomorphism in autistic and nonautistic adultsJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:88463b22-81eb-4cf6-b621-f5b8ffb62a74EnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordMary Ann Liebert2019Negri, OWhite, RRemington, A<p><strong>Background:</strong> Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics to nonhuman agents. This common tendency is thought to be driven by a heightened motivation for social connection and may therefore be expected to be reduced in autistic individuals given that this group has been claimed to demonstrate reduced social motivation in some settings. However, the subject of anthropomorphism in autism has not been studied extensively, and online forums, autobiographical accounts, and recent research on the topic suggest that, contrary to this expectation, anthropomorphism is commonly experienced by autistic individuals.</p> <p><strong>Methods:</strong> We conducted semi-structured interviews with eight autistic and eight nonautistic adults, all who reported a tendency to anthropomorphize. We recorded, transcribed, and analyzed the interviews according to the thematic analysis framework with the objective of identifying similarities and differences in the lived experiences of anthropomorphism in autistic and nonautistic individuals. </p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> Individuals in both groups described anthropomorphism as comforting, promoting a sense of safety and friendship with, and feelings of empathy and sympathy toward, nonhuman agents. Autistic individuals stressed the important role anthropomorphized agents played in their life, particularly when growing up: easing loneliness and helping develop an understanding of emotions and relationships. Participants also expressed negative aspects of the phenomenon, with both autistic and nonautistic individuals worrying about anthropomorphized agents' feelings and well-being. For some individuals, such thoughts and feelings caused distress and were experienced as intrusive due to their involuntary nature.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Autistic and nonautistic adults showed very similar anthropomorphic patterns. Although preliminary in nature, our findings highlight characteristics of anthropomorphic experiences for autistic and nonautistic individuals, furthering our understanding of individual differences in social cognition. By illustrating the important role nonhuman agents may play in the lives of autistic individuals, our findings may also guide future research and practice. </p> |
| spellingShingle | Negri, O White, R Remington, A A friendly article: The qualitative investigation of anthropomorphism in autistic and nonautistic adults |
| title | A friendly article: The qualitative investigation of anthropomorphism in autistic and nonautistic adults |
| title_full | A friendly article: The qualitative investigation of anthropomorphism in autistic and nonautistic adults |
| title_fullStr | A friendly article: The qualitative investigation of anthropomorphism in autistic and nonautistic adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | A friendly article: The qualitative investigation of anthropomorphism in autistic and nonautistic adults |
| title_short | A friendly article: The qualitative investigation of anthropomorphism in autistic and nonautistic adults |
| title_sort | friendly article the qualitative investigation of anthropomorphism in autistic and nonautistic adults |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT negrio afriendlyarticlethequalitativeinvestigationofanthropomorphisminautisticandnonautisticadults AT whiter afriendlyarticlethequalitativeinvestigationofanthropomorphisminautisticandnonautisticadults AT remingtona afriendlyarticlethequalitativeinvestigationofanthropomorphisminautisticandnonautisticadults AT negrio friendlyarticlethequalitativeinvestigationofanthropomorphisminautisticandnonautisticadults AT whiter friendlyarticlethequalitativeinvestigationofanthropomorphisminautisticandnonautisticadults AT remingtona friendlyarticlethequalitativeinvestigationofanthropomorphisminautisticandnonautisticadults |