In their words: Understanding social motivation in Autistic adults

Authors

Abstract

Traditionally, Autism research has been dictated by a neurotypical understanding and theorization of normality and functioning, following the medical model of disability. This model views Autistics, who function differently from non-autistics, as inherently abnormal or inadequate (Olkin, 1999; Retief & Letšosa, 2018). The way researchers have conceptual-ized Autistic Social Motivation (SM), or the mechanisms that drive individuals to orient to and participate in the social world, reflects this view. Based on findings from studies in which Autistics manifested fewer (neurotypical) SM behaviors (social orienting, seeking and liking, and social maintaining) than their neurotypical peers, Chevalier et al. (2012) con-cluded that Autistics have reduced SM compared to neurotypicals. Bottini (2018), following her systematic review of studies on social reward processes in Autistics, argued that SM might manifest differently in Autistics, but that it is still present. Jaswal and Akhtar (2018) further argued that neurotypical indicators of SM may not be suitable indicators of SM in Autistics. Instead, they offered explanations unrelated to SM that prevent Autistics’ SM from manifesting in expected ways. Due, for example, to eye gaze avoidance resulting from processing overload. The accounts of some Autistics illustrate that they do seek to engage with the social world: “The way people see autistic folks is that they don't want to be around other people. That’s wrong. The truth about autistic people is that we want what everyone else wants, but we are sometimes misguided and don't know how to connect with other peo-ple.” (Suskind, 2014, p. 366 in Jaswal & Akhtar, 2018).No research has, to my knowledge, explicitly asked how Autistic adults, of any gen-der, would characterize their SM. To do so, I, an Autistic autism researcher, interviewed Autistics about their social motivation and the meanings assigned to their social experiences. Specifically, how they think, feel, and behave in relation to their SM. The Interview Proto-col was organized around eight a priori SM themes (Social Opportunities, Social Interest, Meaning of Relationships, Value of Social Support, Perception of Self in the Social World, Social Initiative Taking, Social Flexibility, and Motivation to Conform Socially) that were elaborated based on a review of measures on SM and social functioning in typical, Autistic, and other clinical populations (Constantino & Gruber, 2012; Elias & White, 2020; Gong et al., 2018; Hurley et al., 2006; Leary et al., 2013; Llerena et al., 2013; Phillips et al., 2019; Raine, 1991; Richard & Schneider, 2005; Yager & Iarocci, 2013). The Protocol was also informed by feedback from four participants (Castillo-Montoya, 2016). A total of 12 Autistic adults without Intellectual Disabilities living in Canada were interviewed, in French or Eng-lish, virtually or in person. On average, interviews lasted 1.5 hours. Following Braun and Clarke's (2006) Reflexive Thematic Analysis guidelines, we developed nine themes sur-rounding the factors contributing to and hindering SM in our sample of Autistic adults. These findings provide a novel, lived-experience-informed understanding of SM in Autis-tics, making the Interview Protocol a resource for Autistic self-understanding and a tool to be used and improved by researchers. Additionally, these insights offer others knowledge into engaging Autistics in more motivating and affirming ways

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