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Autism: identity formation and experience of eye-contact
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Date
2022-05-06
Authors
Garvey, Alison
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University College Cork
Published Version
Abstract
One of the characteristic hallmarks of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) includes an atypical response to eye-contact. Experimental research has contributed significantly to the extant literature on eye-contact in ASD; however, there is a dearth of qualitative research exploring the phenomenological experience of eye-contact for autistic individuals. The current study aimed to explore the subjective experience of deliberate and self-conscious adaptation of eye-contact by autistic participants using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Nine autistic adults were interviewed. Group experiential themes included; (1) Eye-contact: Awareness and motivation, (2) Phenomenology of eye-contact, and (3) Strategies to make eye-contact. This study makes an important and novel contribution to understanding the experience of eye-contact for autistic individuals, and highlights factors influencing effective eye-contact, which may have implications for psychological intervention.
Description
Keywords
Eye-contact , Qualitative , Autism spectrum disorder , Interpretative phenomenological analysis
Citation
Garvey, A. M. 2022. Autism: identity formation and experience of eye-contact. DClinPsych Thesis, University College Cork.