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Social-Emotional Behavior and Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Definition

Social-emotional (SE) development refers to the capacity to experience, express, and manage one’s emotions, as well as the ability to understand and respond to the emotional states of others. In the first few years of life, children rapidly develop social and emotional competencies that allow them to navigate increasingly complex social interactions, including establishing and maintaining relationships with others. These skills are important contributors to emotional well-being and psychological health in adulthood (Frijda 1986; Ekman 1992; Saarni et al. 2006). Many of these SE skills, however, are challenging for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). That is, children with ASD often experience difficulties in SE reciprocity – such as emotional expressiveness, regulation, and responsiveness – contributing to their difficulties in engaging appropriately in social situations (American Psychiatric Association 2013; Sigman and Capps 1997).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Sarah Raza, Lori-Ann Sacrey & Lonnie Zwaigenbaum

  2. Autism Research Centre, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Sarah Raza, Lori-Ann Sacrey & Lonnie Zwaigenbaum

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  1. Sarah Raza
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  1. Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, CT, USA

    Fred R. Volkmar

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Raza, S., Sacrey, LA., Zwaigenbaum, L. (2020). Social-Emotional Behavior and Autism Spectrum Disorder. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_102465-1

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