Effects of art on emotional perception for those with ASD
Graduation Date
Fall 2016
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
Degree Granting Institution
Notre Dame de Namur University
Program Name
Art Therapy
Dean
John Lemmon, PhD
First Reader
Jennifer Harrison, PsyD, ATR-BC, DAAETS
Second Reader
Marina Vasserman, MA BCBA, PRT, RDI, DTT
Abstract
This research examined the ability of art making interventions to increase emotional perception for children on the Autism spectrum. The outcome of the study demonstrated that components of the ability to identify emotion improved as a result of art making. Although the anticipated changes did not prove to be statistically significant in all parameters of the research; the response time for each emotion did show a statistically significant decrease as well as overall change in participants’ accuracy. However, when comparing Childhood Autism Spectrum Test scores to test results did not change significantly. The decrease in response time and increase in accuracy supports improvement in the ability to identify emotions. This research generates further inquiry into the benefits of utilizing art therapy to improve the lives of those on the autism spectrum.