The clinical utility of social information processing theory in assessing and treating offenders with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Purpose: Social deficits are central within conceptualisations of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and seperately linked to offending behaviour. Social problem solving interventions are often used with offenders, but little research has examined the social information processing (SIP) skills of individuals with ASD and a history of criminal offending behaviours.Design/methodology/approach: This conceptual paper will introduce the SIP model, review SIP research as applied to those with ASD and in forensic populations, and further consider the relevance to the assessment and treatment of offenders with ASD.Findings: Difficulties in all areas of the SIP model are noted in ASD and research suggests these difficulties may be directly linked to behaviour. Practical implications:It is possible that identifying SIP abilities and deficits could improve the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes for this group. Originality/value: This paper reviews the utility of social information models in the offending behaviour of people with ASD. IntroductionPeople with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who engage in offending behaviour are a small but overrepresented group within the criminal justice system. Although a topic of interest in academic literature, there has been little theoretically driven research. WoodburySmith et al. (2005; highlighted that when considering vulnerability to offending in ASD, risk factors identified in the general criminological literature are relevant, e.g. low IQ, poor educational achievement, and hyperactivity-impulsivity-inattention; as well as ASD specific risk factors, such as poor social understanding, circumscribed interests, difficulties in adjusting to the diagnosis and social exclusion. Social problem solving interventions are considered effective for reducing offending behaviours (e.g. McMurran et al., 1999), and while social deficits are part of the conceptualisation of ASD, and independently linked to offending behaviour, social information processing (SIP) models have not been applied to those with both ASD and a history of criminal offending behaviours. This conceptual paper aims to introduce the SIP model, review SIP research involving both those with ASD, and those with offending behaviours. Furthermore, the utility of SIP models in explaining and treating some of the specific difficulties faced by those with ASD who have a history of criminal offending behaviours will be examined. What is Social Information Processing and how is it affected in Autism Spectrum Disorder?Social information processing (SIP) models aim to increase understanding of antisocial behaviour (van Nieuwenhuijzen et al., 2004;Stickle, Kirkpatrick & Brush, 2009) and have been described as one of the most fruitful areas of study for understanding the processes implicated in persistent aggression (Bowen, Roberts, Kocian, & Bartula, 2014; Stickle, Kirkpatrick & Brush, 2009). The most well-known SIP model is that of Crick and Dodge (1994;1996;Dodge, 1986;Dodge & Price, 1994). According to their model, several...

Subtypes of Aggressive Behavior in Children with Autism in the Context of Emotion Recognition, Hostile Attribution Bias, and Dysfunctional Emotion Regulation

“…According to the SCIP, the first step of social-cognitive information-processing is the correct encoding and processing of others’ emotions to make moral judgments (Chester & Langdon, 2016 ; Lemerise & Arsenio, 2000 ). Previous studies identified positive relationships between emotion recognition and later SCIP steps (e.g., problem identification and solution, goal clarification, response selection) in TD children with and without mild intellectual impairments (Bauminger et al, 2005 ; Meyer et al, 2006 ; Schultz et al, 2004 ; van Nieuwenhuijzen & Vriens, 2012 ) and children with autism (Russo-Ponsaran et al, 2015 ).…”

“…Even though there is quality research providing empirical support for individual risk factors and predictors of aggression in children with autism, it largely lacks integration, which hinders the effective understanding, prevention, and treatment of aggressive behavior (Chester & Langdon, 2016 ). The present work is based on the multifaceted Social Cognitive Information-Processing models (SCIP models; Crick & Dodge, 1994 , 1996 ; Huesmann, 1998 ; Lemerise & Arsenio, 2000 ) because they are to date the most influential and comprehensive frameworks, which are most widely applied to explain aggressive behavior (see reviews Fontaine, 2008 ; Larkin et al, 2013 ; Smeijers et al, 2020 ).…”

Diagnosis and treatment of ASD in women in secure and forensic hospitals

“…Social deficits are central within conceptualisations of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and symptomology, and plausibly linked to offending behaviour (ASD). This suggests a need for research into social problem-solving interventions which take into account the social information processing skills of individuals with ASD as explored by Chester and Langdon in their paper, "The clinical utility of social information processing theory in assessing and treating offenders with autism spectrum disorder" (Chester and Langdon, 2016). Similarly, little is known about how the social and communication deficit impacts on rehabilitation work in forensic settings, particularly in the context of intellectual disability (Dobbinson, 2016).…”

Interpersonal Cognitive Biases in Children and Young People with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Systematic Review

“…While different types of NDD are difficult to distinguish at the neuropsychological level, more severe problems with Theory of Mind in individuals with ASD [39•] might make this group particularly vulnerable to HAI by making it difficult for them to envision that another person's intent may be non-hostile when the outcome is negative [20,40]. This might explain the link between Theory of Mind and social anxiety or aggression [41][42][43].…”