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An Introduction to the Handbook

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Handbook of Social Skills and Autism Spectrum Disorder

Part of the book series: Autism and Child Psychopathology Series ((ACPS))

Abstract

Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have qualitative impairments in social behavior. These impairments can range from intolerance of peers to a failure to develop meaningful prosocial relationships. Failure to develop appropriate social behaviors can result in some serious negative outcomes such as depression, loneliness, being bullied, and thoughts of suicide, while the development of appropriate social behavior correlates with positive outcomes such as better school performance, developing friendships, and a higher quality of life. Thus, it is important for researchers to evaluate ways to assess social behavior, measure social behavior displayed by individuals diagnosed with ASD compared with their peers, and evaluate interventions that improve social behavior. This handbook was developed to address these areas (i.e., assessment, evaluation, and intervention) of social behavior as it relates to individuals diagnosed with ASD. The introductory chapter goes over the importance of social behavior, resistance in addressing social behavior, and describing what information is included in the handbook.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Director of Research, Autism Partnership Foundation, Seal Beach, CA, USA

    Justin B. Leaf

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  1. Justin B. Leaf
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Correspondence to Justin B. Leaf .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Autism Partnership Foundation, Seal Beach, California, USA

    Justin B. Leaf

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Leaf, J.B. (2017). An Introduction to the Handbook. In: Leaf, J. (eds) Handbook of Social Skills and Autism Spectrum Disorder . Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62995-7_1

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