עיסוק בתחום עניין אצל אנשים המאובחנים עם אוטיזם: משאב או מכשול?

Interest is considered a resource for development and well-being in normative populations. However, for people who are diagnosed on the autism spectrum disorder (ASD), interest is often described as "pathological" or "obsessive", and is frequently perceived as having a negative effect on learning as well as an obstacle for conducting personal relations. This pilot research explored this phenomenon. Findings reported are from online open questionnaires filled out by 10 young adults who were diagnosed with ASD – severity level 1 – and 10 who were not. A thematic analysis suggests that the intensity of positive emotions expressed by the people diagnosed on the ASD towards their interests, the way their knowledge is structured, and their disregard of the environment when developing and maintaining their interests, explains why for them interest is an obstacle and not a resource. The discussion deals with the question of how to exploit the unique characteristics of interest development of people on the ASD to enhance adjustment.