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. 2019 May;23(4):910-921.
doi: 10.1177/1362361318785172. Epub 2018 Aug 3.

Neurodivergent intersubjectivity: Distinctive features of how autistic people create shared understanding

Brett Heasman  1 , Alex Gillespie  1
Affiliations

Neurodivergent intersubjectivity: Distinctive features of how autistic people create shared understanding

Brett Heasman et al. Autism. 2019 May.

Abstract

Autistic people are neurologically divergent, yet approaches to studying autism are framed by neurotypical definitions of being social. Using the concept of intersubjectivity, which conceptualises a variety of ways of socially relating, we investigate distinctive features of how autistic people build social understanding. A total of 30 members of a charity supporting adults with autism were video-recorded during a social activity they enjoyed, namely collaborative video gaming. Mapping the coherence, affect and symmetry of each conversational turn revealed shifting patterns of intersubjectivity within each interaction. Focussing on clusters of consistent and fragmented turns led us to identify two features of neurodivergent intersubjectivity: a generous assumption of common ground that, when understood, led to rapid rapport, and, when not understood, resulted in potentially disruptive utterances; and a low demand for coordination that ameliorated many challenges associated with disruptive turns. Our findings suggest that neurodivergent intersubjectivity reveals potential for unconventional forms of social relating and that a within-interaction analysis is a viable methodology for exploring neurodivergent communication. Future research should examine the varieties of neurodivergent intersubjectivity, with associated problems and potentials, and how those forms of intersubjectivity can be enabled to flourish, particularly in autistic-to-neurotypical encounters.

Keywords: double empathy; friendships; intersubjectivity; neurodivergence; neurodiversity; norms; qualitative research; social interaction; video gaming; within-interaction variation.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Percentage of interaction involving consistent and fragmented coordination turns.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Example interaction, with 20-turn moving average of intersubjective dimensions and 3-turn clusters of consistent and fragmented moments.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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