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Brief Report: Theory of Mind, Relational Reasoning, and Social Responsiveness in Children With and Without Autism: Demonstration of Feasibility for a Larger-Scale Study

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Abstract

Understanding the underpinnings of social responsiveness and theory of mind (ToM) will enhance our knowledge of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We hypothesize that higher-order relational reasoning (higher-order RR: reasoning necessitating integration of relationships among multiple variables) is necessary but not sufficient for ToM, and that social responsiveness varies independently of higher-order RR. A pilot experiment tested these hypotheses in n = 17 children, 3–14, with and without ASD. No child failing 2nd-order RR passed a false belief ToM test. Contrary to prediction, Social Responsiveness Scale scores did correlate with 2nd-order RR performance, likely due to sample characteristics. It is feasible to translate this comparative cognition-inspired line of inquiry for full-scale studies of ToM, higher-order RR, and social responsiveness in ASD.

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Notes

  1. We do not in any way imply that there is anything less human about individuals with autism, young children, or those with intellectual disability because of limitations in certain forms of RR. Indeed, part of the supporting evidence for our work includes noting that some individuals with autism demonstrate above-average fluid reasoning. RR is only a small part of what makes all humans human.

  2. Our prediction that no child failing higher-order relational reasoning could pass False Belief was tested by assessing the exact binomial probability of n children failing higher-order relational reasoning but passing False Belief.

  3. Adjustment for unequal variances.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Derek C. Penn, Keith Holyoak, John N. Constantino, Dorothy K. Grange, Lawrence McEvoy, and Victoria Sorrentino for their significant contributions to this work. Britt Gott assisted with manuscript preparation. Funding included K12 EY016336 (Pruett), JSMF Centennial Fellowship (Povinelli), and The Drs. John R. (Sr.) and Patricia O. Pruett Fund (for research in Theory of Mind and for undergraduate training).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave, Campus Box 8134, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA

    John R. Pruett Jr. & Sridhar Kandala

  2. Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave, Campus Box 8111, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA

    Steven E. Petersen

  3. Department of Psychology, Washington University, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA

    Steven E. Petersen

  4. Department of Biology, University of Louisiana, P.O. Box 42451, Lafayette, LA, 70504, USA

    Daniel J. Povinelli

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  1. John R. Pruett Jr.
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Correspondence to John R. Pruett Jr..

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Pruett, J.R., Kandala, S., Petersen, S.E. et al. Brief Report: Theory of Mind, Relational Reasoning, and Social Responsiveness in Children With and Without Autism: Demonstration of Feasibility for a Larger-Scale Study. J Autism Dev Disord 45, 2243–2251 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2357-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2357-1

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