Responses Towards Tantrum Behavior in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Main Author: Bernard, Morgan Foreman
• Language: EN
• Published: University of Louisiana at Lafayette 2015
• Subjects: Mental health|Behavioral psychology|Developmental psychology
• Online Access: http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1592493

<p> Children diagnosed with ASD and their parents often find themselves in difficult situations concerning their child's behavior while in public, and the responses from the public are usually negative (Chambres, Auxiette, Vansingle, &amp; Sandrine, 2008). The purpose of this study was to describe responses towards a child with ASD having a tantrum. We evaluated how knowing the child's diagnosis, understanding of the behavioral characteristics of ASD, and dispositional empathy related to the responses towards the tantrum. The findings from this study suggest that while it is helpful to disclose an ASD diagnosis, it is not necessarily more helpful to explain the characteristics and nature of ASD in order to elicit an empathic response from others. Revealing that the child was diagnosed with ASD leads to more empathic responses regarding the child and mother. The level of dispositional empathic concern and perspective taking an individual had correlated with their responses to the child and mother's behavior in the tantrum situation.</p>