Activities per year
Abstract
Although autism has been characterised as a disorder certain selective advantages of autism have been identified which may represent a selective trade-off for reduced ‘folk psychology’ and provide a potential explanation for the incorporation of autism genes in the human evolutionary past. Such potential trade-off skills remain to be explored in terms of selectively advantageous or disadvantageous behaviours in the distant past however. Here we present the results of an analysis of the relationship between AQ (autism quotient) and attitudes to valued personal possessions on the basis of a study of 550 participants. We find that individuals with autism have a reduced tendency to value and preserve objects as reminders of relationships/attachment figures and place a greater value on the direct practical function of their personal possessions. The latter strategy may have been more selectively advantageous in certain contexts whilst less advantageous in others in the distant evolutionary past.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 99-112 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 2 |
Early online date | 28 Aug 2017 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2018 |
Keywords
- autism
- material culture
- personal possessions
- selective trade-offs
- autism spectrum condition
- Autism
- Autism spectrum condition
- Personal possessions
- Material culture
- Selective trade-offs
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Thinking Differently: Why did neurodiversity make humans resilient?
Penny Spikins (Chair)
1 Feb 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Human Evolution: A Story of Autism, Compassion and Collaboration
Penny Spikins (Advisor)
17 Dec 2020Activity: Other › Media (Other online)
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Interdisciplinary research into the material culture of autism spectrum conditions
Spikins, P., Wright, B. J. D., Scott, C., Schofield, J., Macy, K. & Hardey, M.
31/03/13 → 1/05/24
Project: Other project › Research collaboration
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Meaningful Objects and Comforting Things (research collaboration)
Spikins, P., Debus, D., Wright, B. J. D. & Bell, T.
Project: Other project › Research collaboration
File -
Mind and material culture: Autism spectrum conditions and creative engagement with the material world
Spikins, P. & Wright, B. J. D.
1/06/16 → 31/08/16
Project: Research project (funded) › Internal pump-priming