Relations between moral reasoning, theory of mind and executive functions in children with autism spectrum disorders

Abstract

The aims of the present study were to investigate relations between moral reasoning, executive functioning and Theory of Mind in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) compared to typically developing children and to apply the dual aspect theory of to moral reasoning in individuals with and without ASD. Overall, 21 children with ASD (age: M = 10·22, SD = 1·55) and 21 controls (age: M = 9·83, SD = 2·36) participated and completed the Moral Reasoning Test for children from , which tests affective and cognitive aspects of moral reasoning. In addition, participants completed two Theory of Mind tasks, a working memory and an inhibition test. Correlational analyses revealed significant relations between cognitive moral reasoning and inhibitory control as well as between Theory of Mind and inhibition for the ASD group. Thus, inhibitory control, but not working memory and Theory of Mind, might be one key mechanism underlying moral reasoning, and possibly ToM development in children with ASD. Analyses of variance revealed no significant differences in cognitive and affective aspects of moral reasoning between individuals with ASD and typically developing children. Both groups did also not differ in Theory of Mind and executive functioning. Findings are discussed in light of the heterogeneous literature.