Theory of mind, causal attribution and paranoia in Asperger syndrome

Blackshaw, A J and Kinderman, P and Hare, D J and Hatton, C (2001) Theory of mind, causal attribution and paranoia in Asperger syndrome. Autism, 5 (2). pp. 147-163. ISSN 1461-7005

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Abstract

Theory of mind (ToM) deficits are central to autistic spectrum disorders, including Asperger syndrome. Research in psychotic disorders has developed a cognitive model of paranoid delusions involving abnormal causal attributions for negative events. Possible aetiologies of these include deficits in social reasoning, specifically ToM. The present study investigated this attributional model of paranoia in Asperger syndrome. Participants diagnosed with Asperger syndrome scored significantly higher on a measure of paranoia and lower on a measure of ToM, compared with the control group. They did not differ in self-concept and causal attributions, contrary to the attributional model of paranoia. A regression analysis highlighted private self-consciousness as the only predictor of paranoia. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Autism
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/core/keywords/health
Subjects:
?? asperger syndromecausal attributionsparanoiatheory of mindsituational attributionspersecutory delusionsself-consciousnessdepressionmemoryschizophreniadiscrepanciesautismpeoplemodelhealthdevelopmental and educational psychologyr medicine (general) ??
ID Code:
13511
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
24 Sep 2008 10:35
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
28 Nov 2023 11:50