Vol.:(0123456789)
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Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3616-8
BRIEF REPORT
Brief Report: Risk-Aversion and Rationality in Autism Spectrum
Disorders
Corentin J. Gosling
1
· Sylvain Moutier
1
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018
Abstract
Risk-aversion and rationality have both been highlighted as core features of decision making in individuals with Autism
Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This study tested whether risk-aversion is related to rational decision-making in ASD individu-
als. ASD and matched control adults completed a decision-making task that discriminated between the use of risk-averse and
rational strategies. Results showed that overall, ASD participants were more risk-averse than control participants. Specifically,
both groups made similar choices when risk-aversion was the less rational strategy but ASD participants chose more rational
options than control participants when risk-aversion was the most rational strategy. This study confirmed that risk-aversion
is a core feature of ASD and revealed that ASD individuals can switch their decision-making strategy adaptively to avoid
negative consequences.
Keywords Autism spectrum disorder · Risk-aversion · Framing effect · Decision-making
Introduction
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental
disorder characterized by a broad range of deficits in social
interactions that are associated with restricted patterns of
behaviors and interests (American Psychiatric Association
2013). Recent research has revealed that less than 25% of
ASD adults with average or higher intellectual abilities live
independently, participate full-time in post-secondary educa-
tion, and/or are employed in the general workforce (Marriage
et al. 2009). Interestingly, both self-reports and autobio-
graphical accounts indicate that ASD individuals experience
difficulty with making important decisions in their daily
lives (e.g., Grandin 2000), such as decisions that have to be
made quickly or that involve a change of routine (Luke et al.
2012). In addition, family member reports indicate that less
than 5% of individuals with Asperger Syndrome are able to
execute a major purchase or make decisions about self-care
(Green et al. 2000). These decision-making difficulties likely
negatively affect an ASD individual’s quality of life by mak-
ing it more difficult to live independently or become gain-
fully employed. Therefore, revealing the cognitive mecha-
nisms that underlie decision-making in ASD individuals is
a critical issue for current psychology research.
Although some experimental studies have confirmed that
ASD individuals have difficulties with decision-making
(e.g., Johnson et al. 2006), there is also evidence to sug-
gest that ASD individuals can make more rational deci-
sions compared to individuals with typical development.
For example, De Martino et al. (2008) compared framing
susceptibility between individuals with ASD and individu-
als with typical development. The framing effect is a cog-
nitive bias that leads people to shift their choices between
two mathematically equivalent options, depending upon how
these options are presented (Tversky and Kahneman 1981).
For example, when mathematically equivalent sure and
risky options are presented as gains, individuals typically
prefer the sure option. In contrast, when the same options
are presented as losses, the risky option is typically pre-
ferred. Individuals susceptible to the framing effect violate
the invariance principle (Neumann and Morgenstern 1944),
making resistance to the framing effect a marker of rational-
ity (De Martino et al. 2006). In line with theories positing
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this
article (https ://doi.org/10.1007/s1080 3-018-3616-8) contains
supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
* Sylvain Moutier
sylvain.moutier@parisdescartes.fr
1
Laboratory of Psychopathology and Health Process,
Department of Psychology, Paris Descartes University,
Boulogne-Billancourt, France
@Phil_Robichaud
@deepthiw
@JoseServera