Though the research on personality in the lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is still in its infancy, a recent study by the Institute for Autism Research and the Department of Psychology may be the catalyst for future work in this area.
Researchers at Canisius examined the relationship between those with ASD and what’s known as the ‘Big Five’ personality traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and emotional stability. Findings indicated that an ASD diagnosis and ASD characteristics are both related to lower levels of these key personality traits, which could put individuals at risk of challenges across their lifespan.
The hope, say researchers, is that these findings have a useful role in facilitating differential diagnosis of individuals with ASD and inform future intervention possibilities.
