'Too withdrawn' or 'too friendly': considering social vulnerability in two neuro-developmental disorders

• Published in: Journal of intellectual disability research Vol. 56; no. 4; pp. 335 - 350
• Main Authors: Jawaid, A., Riby, D. M., Owens, J., White, S. W., Tarar, T., Schulz, P. E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2012; Wiley-Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Autism; Autistic spectrum disorders; Awareness - physiology; Behavior Therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - physiopathology; Bullying; Child; Child clinical studies; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - diagnosis; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - physiopathology; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - psychology; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - rehabilitation; Chromosome aberrations; Cognition & reasoning; Communication; Congenital Impairments; Decision Making; Developmental disorders; Employment; Genetic Disorders; Humans; Infantile autism; Intellectual Disability - diagnosis; Intellectual Disability - physiopathology; Intellectual Disability - psychology; Intellectual Disability - rehabilitation; Interpersonal Relations; Interpersonal Relationship; Intervention; Learning disabilities; Medical genetics; Medical sciences; Mental Retardation; Nerve Net - physiopathology; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Rehabilitation, Vocational; Risk assessment; Safety; social; Social Adjustment; Social Behavior Disorders - diagnosis; Social Behavior Disorders - physiopathology; Social Behavior Disorders - psychology; Social Behavior Disorders - rehabilitation; Social Cognition; Social Environment; Social functioning; Social Isolation; Socialization; Vulnerability; Vulnerable Populations; Williams syndrome; Williams Syndrome - diagnosis; Williams Syndrome - physiopathology; Williams Syndrome - psychology; Williams Syndrome - rehabilitation; Chromosomal aberration; Autism; Developmental disorder; Vulnerability; social; Williams syndrome
• ISSN: 0964-2633; 1365-2788
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2011.01452.x

In some neuro‐developmental disorders, the combined effect of intellectual disability and atypicalities of social cognition may put individuals at increased vulnerability in their social environment. The neuro‐developmental disorders Williams syndrome, characterised by ‘hypersociability’, and autism spectrum disorders, characterised by ‘social withdrawal’, are at two extremes of atypical social functioning in humans. In this article, we use Williams syndrome and autism spectrum disorders as exemplars to demonstrate how atypicalities of social cognition may contribute to social vulnerability in these populations. The lives of individuals with both these disorders are marred by an increased risk of social isolation, bullying, unsteady relationships, employment difficulties and abuse. While different behavioural interventions have been tried to improve social functioning in these populations, there has been great variability in their success. Finally, we discuss different issues regarding social independence of these individuals; including employment, safety and decision making.