自閉スペクトラム症者のユーモアに関する研究動向 ―理解・体験・表出からみた支援―

Abstract

Recent studies of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have focused on their humor. Humor is a transient pleasant emotional experience of feeling that something is funny. It arises from the cognitive processing of stimuli. The present study examined research trends and issues regarding humor in individuals with autism spectrum disorder, assuming that individuals with autism spectrum disorder have their own sense of humor. The results suggested that individuals with autism spectrum disorder have specifıcity in their comprehension, appreciation, and production of humor. It has been suggested that individuals with autism spectrum disorder may have diffıculty understanding the intention of others' humor and may tend to experience humor by focusing on parts rather than on the whole more than typically developed (TD) individuals do. It has been hypothesized that their weak central coherence theory and failure of theory of mind may also be influential. The present review identifıed the following issues for future study of individuals with autism spectrum disorder: examining the influence of developmental stage and IQ, developing indices to enable a better understanding of their humor, identifying factors that promote their appreciation of humor, studying the relationship between humor appreciation and comprehension, and studying the humor that they produce. It is expected that further information on these issues and consideration of the availability of humor will assist in the support of individuals with autism spectrum disorder.