S is freshman at mid-size college after being and on the Autism spectrum. He had a bumpy first semester, failed a class and poor grades otherwise…wanted to quit. His second semester is going better, and just transitioning to college dorm life after online hs school has been a success in my opinion, even though he is not very social, he is able to coexist with peers. We brought him home for spring break and he mentioned a communications assignment. During class the students were supposed to go out onto the campus for about 10 minutes and invade personal space or stare at others…that type of thing. I guess the point was to see people’s reactions? My S was uncomfortable with this and I am glad he recognized that the behavior would come off inappropriate. I think he saw 2 people walking side by side and he walked beside them when normally he would speed past. I am glad that he did not decide to stare at someone or get up too close…or I could see things going terribly wrong. My S can be super focused and can come off angry sometimes even when he is not. He is 5’11 and 150 lbs, nice dresser-button down/khakis usually. I think if I noticed someone staring at me or standing too close (and not knowing it was for an assignment) it would be creepy!! I think someone who has experience with being stalked or assaulted or otherwise feels vulnerable could be traumatized by someone doing this to them. I’m glad my s handled it okay and recognized that this behavior was odd–so win for him. Does anyone else have thoughts on this assignment?
What was the course? I teach courses in communication and occasionally assign a similar project - the idea is to reflect upon social norms and our emotional response when those are violated. Not knowing the assignment, it sound like your S has done precisely what my assignment calls for: breaking the norm and reflecting on what to do and why you would not do that regularly.
There is reseach on “zones of personal space” that outlines distances that most folks use when speaking to one another, ranging from intimate communication (less than 18 inches) to conversational space to public speaking.
Frankly, in my class, your S’s choice to walk alongside another couple would get an A. Most people just invade someone’s space by standing too close or sitting next to them. What he did was really creative and speaks to many interpersonal issues.
During the in-class debrief, we usually take about things like height, race, etc. I hadn’t thought about the influence on someone who feels vulnerable (as either the approacher or the person being approached), and I’ll consider than for future assignments.
And no, I haven’t assigned this exercise this semester…
I find this type of assignment to be disturbing and unethical. To comply with the assignment, one must turn other students into research subjects without their consent.
@stradmom and @OhiBro Thank you for your comments! Of course, I don’t know all the specifics of the 10 minute assignment, but it did not sound like they needed to tell anyone that they were part of a class assignment. There was a discussion about what they did during class, but my s did not share his experience and I’m glad he didn’t let prof know his opinions about it! I told him that at the end of the semester, if able to give feedback, it would be a good opportunity to address some of the issues I brought up. I can’t help to think about someone who is maybe feeling insecure wondering why they are being stared at or someone vulnerable being traumatized or someone with a temper getting upset!
@stradmom the course is Interpersonal Communications. @OhiBro I never even thought of the ethical issue of research on someone!
@1Lotus Like you, I don’t know the details of the assignment. Maybe the teacher intended for it to be very brief and innocent in nature, but an ASD kid like your son may have taken it more literally. But for more formal research, informed consent is mandatory.