A comparison of the interactive play behaviours between children with albinism and their siblings and children without albinism and their non-albino siblings

Abstract

The study explored the nature of the interactive play behaviours of children with albinism and children without albinism and compared the interactive behaviours of both children with albinism and children without albinism. Naturalistic observations were conducted during periods of free play, using the interactive play behaviour checklist aided by video recordings, on three different days. The findings of the study showed that children without albinism showed more pro-social play behaviours, aggressive play behaviours, affiliative play behaviours and possession-related behaviours as compared to children with albinism. A significant difference was noted in the pro-social and possessionrelated play behaviours between the children with albinism and children without albinism. Children without albinism showed more interactive play behaviours as compared with the children with albinism. Both groups of children showed the same amount of aggressive and affiliative play behaviours, while children without albinism showed more pro-social and possession-related behaviours.

Ostracism of an Albino Individual by a Group of Pigmented Catfish

“…The pleiotropic effect of albinism is considered to be responsible for physiological and behavioural disadvantages [ 2 , 6 , 8 , 9 ]. However, the social consequences of albinism have only been described for human beings during ontogenesis [ 10 ], which are displayed via religion stigmatisation and community ostracism [ 11 ]. Apparently, only limited participation in social benefits such as friendships, marriages, and carrier opportunities [ 11 , 12 ] has been recorded among albino people, suggesting that ostracism is distinguishable in time and space.…”