Peers Influence Prosocial Behavior in Adolescent Males with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Jorien Van Hoorn, Eric Van Dijk, Eveline A Crone, Lex Stockmann, Carolien Rieffe
Author Information
Jorien Van Hoorn: Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands. jvanhoorn@unc.edu. ORCID
Eric Van Dijk: Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Eveline A Crone: Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Lex Stockmann: Rivierduinen, Centre for Autism, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Carolien Rieffe: Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Peer influence has a profound impact on decision-making in typically developing adolescents. In this study, we examined to what extent adolescent males (age 11-17 years; N = 144) with and without autism (ASD) were influenced by peer feedback on prosocial behavior, and which factors were related to individual differences in peer feedback sensitivity. In a public goods game, participants made decisions about the allocation of tokens between themselves and their group-in absence or presence of peer feedback. Adolescents with and without ASD were sensitive to peer feedback on prosocial behavior. More autism traits and social interest were associated with less sensitivity to antisocial feedback, suggesting that peer feedback creates opportunities for social adjustment in those with and without ASD.
