Smiles of Children with ASD May Facilitate Helping Behaviors to the Robot

Helping behaviors are one of the important prosocial behaviors in order to develop social communication skills based on empathy. In this study, we examined the potentials of using a robot as a recipient of help, and helping behaviors to a robot. Also, we explored the relationships between helping behaviors and smiles that is an indicator of a positive mood. The results of this study showed that there might be a positive correlation between the amount of helping behaviors and the number of smiles. It implies that smiles may facilitate helping behaviors to the robot. This preliminary research indicates the potentials of robot-assisted interventions to facilitate and increase helping behaviors of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

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