Abstract
Theory of mind (ToM) is defined as the process of taking another’s perspective. Anthropomorphism can be seen as the extension of ToM to non-human entities. This review examines the literature concerning ToM and anthropomorphism in relation to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), specifically addressing the questions of how and why those on the spectrum both show an increased interest for anthropomorphism and may even show improved ToM abilities when judging the mental states of anthropomorphic characters. This review highlights that while individuals with ASD traditionally show deficits on a wide range of ToM tests, such as recognizing facial emotions, such ToM deficits may be ameliorated if the stimuli presented is cartoon or animal-like rather than in human form. Individuals with ASD show a greater interest in anthropomorphic characters and process the features of these characters using methods typically reserved for human stimuli. Personal accounts of individuals with ASD also suggest they may identify more closely with animals than other humans. It is shown how the social motivations hypothesized to underlie the anthropomorphizing of non-human targets may lead those on the spectrum to seek social connections and therefore gain ToM experience and expertise amongst unlikely sources.
Highlights
It took me a long time to figure out that I see things about animals other people don’t
As we have shown, anthropomorphizing may be a potential scaffold for improving ToM abilities more generally in this population, as they correspond with a number of strengths intrinsic to ASD
They taught me the beauty of being wild and gentle together as one (Prince-Hughes, 2004, p. 1)
Summary
It took me a long time to figure out that I see things about animals other people don’t. It wasn’t until I was in my forties that I realized I had one big advantage over the feedlot owners who were hiring me to manage their animals: being autistic. Perhaps one reason individuals are more likely to anthropomorphize entities that are unpredictable is that human behavior can be difficult to predict, governed by a complex system of non-observable cognitions, beliefs, and motivations (Evans and Stanovich, 2013). When non-human entities behave invariably, we reflexively attempt to make sense of that behavior, by tracing it back to a particular goal or purpose
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