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An ethological approach to autism: an analysis of visual behaviour and interpersonal contact in a child versus adult interaction
Author(s) -
Pedersen J.,
LivoirPetersen M. F.,
Schelde J. T. M.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1989.tb02991.x
Subject(s) - autism , eye contact , psychology , interpersonal communication , gaze , mentally retarded , developmental psychology , interpersonal relationship , social relation , communication , social psychology , psychoanalysis
— Eighteen children classified into 4 diagnostic categories were compared based on their behaviour in a child‐adult interaction. The categories consist of autistic children with full syndrome, autistic children in a residual Kate, hyperactive children, and mentally retarded children. An ethological analysis of the interpersonal distance, the amount of physical contact, and the direction of the look/gaze was carried out to describe some behavioural aspects of infantile autism. The autistic children with full syndrome were found to be different from the other categories by a relatively close interpersonal distance, a high frequency of physical contact, and a low frequency of “look at face”.