title: The understanding and self-reported use of emotional display rules in children with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: Two studies examined the understanding and self-reported use of rules for the expressive display of emotions in children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders (HFASD) and in typically developing children. In Study 1, children from the two groups reported display rules equally often when presented with hypothetical situations that provided clear motives for using display rules, although emotion-masking displays were more commonly identified for vignettes with prosocial rather than self-protective motives. In Study 2, children were interviewed about display rule use in real life. Children with HFASD reported display rules less often, included more prototypical examples, and referred less often to prosocial motives than typically developing children. Children with HFASD appear to be aware of display rules, but are less adept at identifying the interpersonal functions of such rules than their typically developing peers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. S.Begeer@psy.vu.nl
authors.forename: Sander
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Begeer
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Carolien
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rieffe
authors.forename: Mark Meerum
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Terwogt
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Potharst
authors.forename: Hedy
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stegge
authors.forename: Hans M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Koot
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology*; D032882:Comprehension; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057566:Self Report