Which statement best describes social-emotional differences in autism?

• A. They generally exhibit strong reciprocity in social interactions
• B. They never avoid eye contact
• C. They always mimic emotions accurately
• D. They may avoid eye contact and show repetitive behaviors

Answer: (D)

Social-emotional differences in autism often show up as ways of engaging socially that differ from typical expectations, including eye contact patterns and repetitive behaviors. The statement that people on the autism spectrum may avoid eye contact and show repetitive behaviors reflects two common and well-documented ways these differences can manifest. Eye contact avoidance can be a way to manage sensory input or to focus processing on what’s happening around them, while repetitive behaviors provide a sense of predictability and regulation. These features can occur together, though they vary widely among individuals. The other options describe patterns that are not generally characteristic of autism, such as universal reciprocity in social interactions, never avoiding eye contact, or always mimicking emotions accurately.