Comparing Developmental Trajectories of Loophole Behavior in Autistic and Neurotypical Children

Abstract

Loophole behavior is a common strategy used by neurotypical children to avoid trouble. The use of loopholes requires pattern recognition, language understanding, rational planning, and goal alignment. A major marker of autism is difficulty with Theory of Mind and language tasks, making their engagement with loophole behavior, which has clear patterns in neurotypical development, particularly interesting. We surveyed parents of autistic children (N = 202) and neurotypical children (N = 431) about their children’s engagement with loophole behavior. We found that loophole behavior is common in both populations, and while the onset of this behavior was significantly later among autistic children compared to neurotypical children, the peak and offset age were not. This could point to a developmental trajectory that occurs later for autistic children compared to neurotypical children, but overall demonstrates that autistic individuals have the ability to engage with loophole behavior.