Attitudes towards autistic characters in mainstream series and connections with viewers’ own characteristics: an exploratory study
Recent Publication
In recent years, autistic characters have become increasingly common in mainstream series - but how do viewers feel about their portrayal? A recent study from the Transition Psychiatry Research Center examined the attitudes of young adults towards 15 series with autistic characters and found interesting patterns: characters with insular talents were particularly favored, while more realistic portrayals of autism were less popular. It was also found that people with a lower ability to recognize emotions were more likely to watch series without savantism. However, there were no gender-specific differences in preferences. The results suggest that stereotypical or stigmatizing portrayals are influenced by the preferences of the audience.
Mag. Dr. Verena Steiner-Hofbauer
Head of
Research Centre Transitional Psychiatry
Marie Celine Dorczok MSc
Scientific Staff (PreDoc)
Research Centre Transitional Psychiatry
Dr. Gloria Mittmann MSc
Scientific Staff (PostDoc)
Research Centre Transitional Psychiatry