Pretending, imagery, and self-awareness in autism

Abstract

Abstract In this chapter, we examine the idea that children with autism suffer from an impoverished imagination and lack awareness of their own mental states. Our starting point is the deficit in pretend play that Kanner included in his original description of the syndrome (Kanner 1943). We review evidence showing that although children with autism can engage in pretence and appear to understand its special logic, they do play in a restricted or stereotypic fashion. We then consider recent, longitudinal studies that have focused on the development of pretend play in the second year of life. When pretend play has not emerged by eighteen months, and is combined with social difficulties, notably problems in establishing joint attention, a subsequent diagnosis of autism is likely. However, evidence from older children shows that the problem with pretend play is not just a by-product of the social difficulties of children with autism.