Can autistic people recognize emotions? This question is the focus of this work. Our findings showed that Theory of Mind difficulties were observed in verbal tasks but not in the understanding of emotional contexts, suggesting that appropriate contextual cues might help emotion understanding in children with Autism. These data have been briefly discussed through the isomorphism’s theory (Gestalt psychology); embodied simulation theory (Gallese); boundary contact theory (Gestalt therapy). Moreover the local information processing for details (systematizing level) is not considered as an obstacle for gestalt information processing and emotional recognition but it could be considered as a sign of neurodiversity.
Keywords: Autism, theory of mind, Gestalt therapy, gestalt psychology, interpersonal isomorphism.