Autistics don’t adjust their behavior to protect their reputations
►http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2011/10/autistics-dont-adjust-their-behavior-to-protect-their-reputations.ars
Researchers know that people with autism spectrum disorders lack the ability to engage normally in social interactions. However, they don’t know exactly what aspect of cognition is impaired in autistic individuals. One theory is that those with autism don’t have a full grasp of theory-of-mind—that is, they can’t (or don’t) attribute beliefs and feelings to other people. One way this may manifest itself is in one’s social reputation: while most people put great value in how others see them, autistic individuals may not either understand or care about their social reputation.