Examining the face threatening acts individuals with autism spectrum disorder experience and how they respond

Abstract

Individuals who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) communicate differently than their neurotypical peers. Prior communication research on individuals with ASD has focused on how interventions can adapt the behaviors of those with ASD to be in line with neurotypical communication. This study treated the communication of individuals with ASD as a different, and valid, way of communicating, not something that needs intervening. We examined the face threats individuals with ASD experienced and the facework strategies they used in response. We found that individuals with ASD experienced (a) positive, (b) negative, and (c) hybrid face threats. In response to these face threats, individuals with ASD used (a) preventive, (b) corrective, and (c) future facework. Additionally, communication partners enacted facework on the behalf of individuals with ASD using (a) corrective and (b) future facework strategies. Face theory assumes that face threats (FTAs) and facework strategies are related; using thematic co-occurrence analysis, this study offered empirical evidence that FTAs and facework occur in patterned ways alongside a variety of practical applications.