Identification: the missing link between joint attention and imitation?
In this paper we outline our hypothesis that human intersubjective engagement entails identifying with other people. We tested a prediction derived from this hypothesis that concerned the relation between a component of joint attention and a specific form of imitation. The empirical investigation involved "blind" ratings of videotapes from a recent study in which we tested matched children with and without autism for their propensity to imitate the self-/other-orientated aspects of another person's actions. The results were in keeping with three a priori predictions, as follows: (a) children with autism contrasted with control participants in spending more time looking at the objects acted upon and less time looking at the tester; (b) participants with autism showed fewer "sharing" looks toward the tester, and although they also showed fewer "checking" and "orientating" looks, they were specifically less likely to show any sharing looks; and, critically, (c) within each group, individual differences in sharing looks (only) were associated with imitation of self-other orientation. We suggest that the propensity to adopt the bodily anchored psychological stance of another person is essential to certain forms of joint attention and imitation, and that a weak tendency to identify with others is pivotal for the developmental psychopathology of autism.
Hobson
Jessica A
JA
Institute of Child Health and Tavistock Clinic, University College London, London, UK. jessica.meyer@ucl.ac.uk
Hobson
R Peter
RP
D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005403:Fixation, Ocular; D006801:Humans; D007062:Identification, Psychological; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012919:Social Behavior; D014743:Videotape Recording