2026-09-21T20:47:22Zhttps://dspace.mit.edu/server/oai/requestoai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/1559182024-08-02T03:19:37Zcom_1721.1_7582com_1721.1_7581col_1721.1_131023
Schulz, Laura E.
Broski, Annalisa
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences
2024-08-01T19:07:26Z
2024-08-01T19:07:26Z
2024-02
2024-07-11T15:29:24.785Z
https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/155918
Loophole behavior is a common strategy used by neurotypical children to avoid trouble. The use of loopholes requires pattern recognition, language understanding, rational planning, and goal alignment. A major marker of autism is difficulty with Theory of Mind and language tasks, making their engagement with loophole behavior, which has clear patterns in neurotypical development, particularly interesting. We surveyed parents of autistic children (N = 202) and neurotypical children (N = 431) about their children’s engagement with loophole behavior. We found that loophole behavior is common in both populations, and while the onset of this behavior was significantly later among autistic children compared to neurotypical children, the peak and offset age were not. This could point to a developmental trajectory that occurs later for autistic children compared to neurotypical children, but overall demonstrates that autistic individuals have the ability to engage with loophole behavior.
M.Eng.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
Copyright retained by author(s)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Comparing Developmental Trajectories of Loophole Behavior in Autistic and Neurotypical Children
Thesis
application/pdf
Master
Master of Engineering in Computation and Cognition
Publication
unknown
unknown
<Publication xmlns="https://www.openaire.eu/cerif-profile/1.1/" id="b3ec0e7c-92f8-4717-a3cf-353c68f7c342">
<Type xmlns="https://www.openaire.eu/cerif-profile/vocab/COAR_Publication_Types">http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_1843</Type>
<Title>Comparing Developmental Trajectories of Loophole Behavior in Autistic and Neurotypical Children</Title>
<PublishedIn>
<Publication>
</Publication>
</PublishedIn>
<PublicationDate>2024-02</PublicationDate>
<Authors>
<Author>
<DisplayName>Broski, Annalisa</DisplayName>
<Affiliation>
<OrgUnit>
</OrgUnit>
</Affiliation>
</Author>
</Authors>
<Editors>
</Editors>
<Publishers>
<Publisher>
<DisplayName>Massachusetts Institute of Technology</DisplayName>
<OrgUnit />
</Publisher>
</Publishers>
<License>https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/</License>
<Abstract>Loophole behavior is a common strategy used by neurotypical children to avoid trouble. The use of loopholes requires pattern recognition, language understanding, rational planning, and goal alignment. A major marker of autism is difficulty with Theory of Mind and language tasks, making their engagement with loophole behavior, which has clear patterns in neurotypical development, particularly interesting. We surveyed parents of autistic children (N = 202) and neurotypical children (N = 431) about their children’s engagement with loophole behavior. We found that loophole behavior is common in both populations, and while the onset of this behavior was significantly later among autistic children compared to neurotypical children, the peak and offset age were not. This could point to a developmental trajectory that occurs later for autistic children compared to neurotypical children, but overall demonstrates that autistic individuals have the ability to engage with loophole behavior.</Abstract>
<Access xmlns="http://purl.org/coar/access_right"
>
</Access>
</Publication>