Recognition of faux pas by normally developing children and children with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism.
Children who pass classic false-belief tasks can still miss everyday social blunders, so probe faux-pas recognition before fading social skills support.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team gave kids short stories where a character accidentally says something rude. They asked, "Did someone say something they shouldn't?"
Kids were 9-11 years old. Some had Asperger or high-functioning autism. All had already passed simple false-belief tasks like "Sally-Anne."
What they found
Typically developing kids spotted the faux pas right away. Kids with AS or HFA usually missed it, even though they knew who held which belief.
Passing a false-belief test did not guarantee spotting a social slip. A higher-order mind-reading gap stayed.
How this fits with other research
Pua et al. (2024) used the same faux-pas stories in parents and siblings of people with ASD. Relatives scored between ASD and typical groups, showing the skill runs in families.
Hawley et al. (2004) moved the idea to adults. They replaced stories with silent videos and again found adults with AS lagged behind, proving the problem is lifelong.
Peterson (2005) seems to clash: kids with autism passed biology tests while failing false-belief. The studies don't disagree; they show different layers. Basic biology facts can be intact while both false-belief and faux-pas detection remain weak.
Why it matters
If a client can pass "Sally-Anne" but still hurts feelings, don't assume full perspective-taking. Add faux-pas drills: present short social slips, ask "Was that okay?" and have the learner fix the comment. Start in role-play, then move to real peer chats. Track correct detection and appropriate repair as your primary data.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Most theory of mind (ToM) tests are designed for subjects with a mental age of 4-6 years. There are very few ToM tests for subjects who are older or more able than this. We report a new test of ToM, designed for children 7-11 years old. The task involves recognizing faux pas. Study 1 tested 7-9, and 11-year-old normal children. Results showed that the ability to detect faux pas developed with age and that there was a differential developmental profile between the two sexes (female superiority). Study 2 tested children with Asperger syndrome (AS) or high-functioning autism (HFA), selected for being able to pass traditional 4- to 6-year level (first- and second-order) false belief tests. Results showed that whereas normal 9- to 11-year-old children were skilled at detecting faux pas, children with AS or HFA were impaired on this task. Study 3 reports a refinement in the test, employing control stimuli. This replicated the results from Study 2. Some patients with AS or HFA were able to recognize faux pas but still produced them. Future research should assess faux pas production.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 1999 · doi:10.1023/a:1023035012436