Eyewitness Testimony in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders Vol. 44; no. 11; pp. 2682 - 2697
• Main Authors: Maras, Katie L., Bowler, Dermot M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.11.2014; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorders; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child and School Psychology; Child clinical studies; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - complications; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - psychology; Communication; Court Litigation; Credibility; Crime; Criminal justice, Administration of; Criminality; Criminals; Developmental disorders; Emotions; Forensic Psychiatry; Humans; Infantile autism; Interpersonal Relationship; Interviews; Justice; Literature Reviews; Medical sciences; Memory; Memory Disorders - complications; Memory Disorders - psychology; Mental Recall; Methods; Neurosciences; Original Paper; Pediatrics; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Psychological aspects; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Public Health; Recall (Psychology); Resistance (Psychology); Risk factors; Semantics; Semiotics; Social aspects; Social interaction; Suggestion; Testimony; Victims; Victims of Crime; Witnesses; United Kingdom; Eyewitness; Interviewing; Credibility; Suggestibility; Memory; Autism spectrum disorder; Testimony; Autism; Pervasive developmental disorder; Developmental disorder; Review
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-012-1502-3

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is estimated to affect around 1% of the population, and is characterised by impairments in social interaction, communication, and behavioural flexibility. A number of risk factors indicate that individuals with ASD may become victims or witnesses of crimes. In addition to their social and communication deficits, people with ASD also have very specific memory problems, which impacts on their abilities to recall eyewitnessed events. We begin this review with an overview of the memory difficulties that are experienced by individuals with ASD, before discussing the studies that have specifically examined eyewitness testimony in this group and the implications for investigative practice. Finally, we outline related areas that would be particularly fruitful for future research to explore.