Editing Asperger syndrome (section)

=== Social interaction ===
{{Further|Asperger syndrome and interpersonal relationships}}

A lack of demonstrated [[empathy]] affects aspects of social relatability for persons with Asperger syndrome.<ref name="Baskin">{{cite journal |vauthors=Baskin JH, Sperber M, Price BH |year=2006 |title=Asperger syndrome revisited |journal=Reviews in Neurological Diseases |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=1–7 |pmid=16596080}}</ref> Individuals with Asperger syndrome experience difficulties in basic elements of social interaction, which may include a failure to develop friendships or to seek shared enjoyments or achievements with others (e.g., showing others objects of interest); a lack of social or emotional [[Reciprocity (social psychology)|reciprocity]]; and impaired [[Nonverbal communication|nonverbal behaviors]] in areas such as [[eye contact]], [[facial expression]], posture, and gesture.<ref name=McPart2006 />

People with Asperger syndrome may not be as withdrawn around others, compared with those with other forms of autism; they approach others, even if awkwardly. For example, a person with Asperger syndrome may engage in a one-sided, long-winded speech about a favorite topic, while misunderstanding or not recognizing the listener's feelings or reactions, such as a wish to change the topic of talk or end the interaction.<ref name=Klin /> This social awkwardness has been called "active but odd".<ref name=McPart2006 /> Such failures to react appropriately to social interaction may appear as disregard for other people's feelings and may come across as rude or insensitive.<ref name=Klin /> However, not all individuals with Asperger syndrome will approach others. Some may even display [[selective mutism]], not speaking at all to most people and excessively to specific others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/912296-overview|work=Medscape eMedicine|title=Asperger's Syndrome| vauthors = Brasic JR|date=7 July 2010|access-date=25 November 2010|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101223170232/http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/912296-overview |archive-date=23 December 2010}}</ref>

The cognitive ability of children with Asperger syndrome often allows them to articulate [[social norms]] in a laboratory context,<ref name=McPart2006 /> where they may be able to show a theoretical understanding of other people's emotions; however, they typically have difficulty acting on this knowledge in fluid, real-life situations.<ref name=Klin /> People with Asperger syndrome may analyze and distill their observations of social interaction into rigid behavioral guidelines and apply these rules in awkward ways, such as forced eye contact, resulting in a demeanor that appears rigid or socially naïve. A history of failed attempts to establish reciprocal social relationships can cause autistic individuals to isolate themselves and cease attempts to engage; however, autistic people overwhelmingly report a desire for social contact and friendship.<ref name=McPart2006 />

==== Violent or criminal behavior ====
The [[hypothesis]] that individuals with Asperger syndrome are predisposed to violent or criminal behavior has been investigated but is unsupported by data.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Allen D, Evans C, Hider A, Hawkins S, Peckett H, Morgan H | title = Offending behaviour in adults with Asperger syndrome | journal = Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders | volume = 38 | issue = 4 | pages = 748–58 | date = April 2008 | pmid = 17805955 | doi = 10.1007/s10803-007-0442-9 | s2cid = 12999370 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Violent behavior in autism spectrum disorders: Who's at risk? |journal=Aggression and Violent Behavior |year=2018 | vauthors = Del Pozzo J, Roché M, Silverstein S |volume=39 |pages=53–60 |doi=10.1016/j.avb.2018.01.007 }}</ref> More evidence suggests that children diagnosed with Asperger syndrome are more likely to be victims, rather than offenders.<ref name=Tsatsanis>{{cite journal | vauthors = Tsatsanis KD | title = Outcome research in Asperger syndrome and autism | journal = Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America | volume = 12 | issue = 1 | pages = 47–63, vi | date = January 2003 | pmid = 12512398 | doi = 10.1016/S1056-4993(02)00056-1 }}</ref>

A 2008 review found that about 80% of reported violent criminals with Asperger syndrome also had other coexisting psychotic [[psychiatric disorders]] such as [[schizoaffective disorder]]. The sample size of this review was small (''n'' = 37).<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Newman SS, Ghaziuddin M | s2cid = 207158193 | title = Violent crime in Asperger syndrome: the role of psychiatric comorbidity | journal = Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders | volume = 38 | issue = 10 | pages = 1848–52 | date = November 2008 | pmid = 18449633 | doi = 10.1007/s10803-008-0580-8}}</ref>