Asperger syndrome, humor, and social well-being

Asperger Syndrome (AS) is marked by severe social impairments. Despite a rising prevalence of AS (Edmonds and Beardon, 2008), there are few studies of these individuals, especially those concerning their social well-being. This paper reviews studies on humor and discusses its role in the social functioning of people with AS. Although studies are few, research generally suggests that individuals with AS are somewhat impaired in their ability to process humorous materials due to fragmented cognitive processes. Because humor plays an essential role in social interactions in everyday life, these findings suggest that the lack of ability to appreciate humor may be partly responsible for the social deficits in people with AS. There is a need for more research into the social competence of individuals with AS, especially in relation to the use of humor in regulating social behaviors. Copyright © 2010 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.