The Benefits of Dialogue Between Women with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Focusing on the Moment When the "Self" is Narrated

Abstract

What are the specific benefits of interaction and dialogue between women with autism spectrum disorder and others who have similar experiences? The purpose of this study is to clarify this question. The subject of this study is the dialogue data of 26 peer support group sessions for women with autism spectrum disorder who have no intellectual disabilities. As a method of analysis, first, the dialogue data was converted into text and repeatedly observed. Next, the data of the dialogues where "self" was being expressed at that exact moment was focused upon, and was verified using the method of conversation analysis. As a result of the analysis, it was found that the dialogues in the peer support group had the following four characteristics: "trace the experience", "notice a shift", "to understand the experience", and "cause a shift." Among the four elements of dialogue, "to understand the experience" and "cause a shift" were found to be particularly important interactions that bring about active negotiations with the mental and physical states of the conversation partner.