Social approach behaviors and reliability of judgments in Williams Syndrome

• Grant number: 15/06725-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2015
• End date: July 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Cognitive Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Ana Alexandra Caldas Osório
• Grantee: Beatriz Marques Sanchez
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie (UPM). Instituto Presbiteriano Mackenzie. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Williams syndrome (WS) is a genetic disorder characterized by intense interest in social stimuli associated with strong social approach. However, it remains unclear how these traits are associated with judgments of social approach in individuals with WS. Previous studies have shown that people with this disorder tend to classify human faces as significantly more approachable when compared with non-clinical samples. Nevertheless, the pattern of eye-tracking adopted in tasks of social approach-avoidance is unknown. The purpose of this study is to expand previous work by providing data on eye-tracking patterns in a sample of 15 patients with SW. More specifically, we intend to analyze whether there are differences in the screening of more versus less approachable faces and its relationship with decisions of approach or avoidance. Additionally, we intend to examine how parental reports of hypersociability correlate with these eye-tracking patterns and approach-avoidance judgments.