If it turns out to be impossible to teach social motivation (desire to be with other people), then focus should turn to helping people with autism use their interest in things and facts in ways that will generate feelings of pride and self-respect.
This short article discusses the issue of whether or not people with autism can be taught to want to be with other people. The author focuses the article on the difference between social skills and social motivation. Most people with autism prefer things and facts to people and therefore lack social motivation. While it is possible to teach social skills such as greeting others, he questions whether or not it is possible to teach social motivation. In other words, can children with autism be taught to use greetings naturally if they lack social motivation?
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