Date of Graduation

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy

Advisor/Mentor

Frazier Highfill, Kimberly

Committee Member

Watson, Cynthia

Abstract

Abstract

Background:

Over-imitation, the act of imitating both relevant and irrelevant actions, is a behavior commonly found in human learning and social development. It is often observed in typically developing (TD) children and is believed to play a role in both social and learning development. While the exact motivations behind over-imitation remain a mystery, over-imitation appears to be a socially motivated behavior. Children may over-imitate when they know certain actions are unnecessary, suggesting this behavior stems from social acceptance and norms. In individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), social and communicative behaviors are drastically different from TD individuals. In individuals with ASD, it is even less clear what the motivations behind over-imitation are, as well as how it shows up, particularly in adolescents.

Purpose:

The purpose of this literature review is to synthesize literature relating to imitation, over-imitation, and ASD to better understand how over-imitation shows up in TD adolescents, specifically those aged 15-19. While several studies have focused on young children, there is limited information on how over-imitation occurs in older adolescents. This review will explore that gap and highlight what is currently known while pointing out areas where more research is needed.

Methods:

The University of Arkansas Libraries were searched using key terms such as “over-imitation”, “autism spectrum disorder”, and “over-imitation and learning development”. Some of the main databases used were Taylor and Francis and Science Direct. These articles were selected based on their relevance to my research questions and were taken from no earlier than 2007 to remain relevant. The review focused on literature that discussed social, developmental, and communicative aspects of imitation, with special attention to any findings relating to adolescents.

Results:

For this review, 21 peer-reviewed articles were retrieved through a database search of ASHA publications, Taylor & Francis, PubMed, and Science Direct, as well as a manual internet search using Google Scholar. Of these, 11 were primary studies that directly examined imitation or over-imitation behaviors in children and adolescents, either diagnosed with ASD or typically developing. The remaining 10 articles included theoretical reviews, meta-analyses, or conceptual frameworks aligned with the research questions. The included studies spanned seven countries, with a variety of participation age ranges, developmental conditions, and research settings. Across studies, over-imitation was more commonly observed in typically developing adolescents than in adolescents with ASD. Higher rates of over-imitation in typically developing adolescents are often tied to social motivation and emotional regulation.

Over-imitation is a well-documented function of human development that is especially common in typically developing children. While this behavior is often linked to social aspects, it remains unclear as to why this behavior occurs, especially in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Some studies found that children with ASD showed reduced over-imitation, while others showed that they do so similarly to typically developing peers. It is clear that research is very limited on over-imitation in adolescents because this age is so crucial for social development; more research is needed to understand how over-imitation shows up during this time for both teens with ASD and typically developing teens. Understanding this may better support interventions for learning and social skills.

Keywords

over-imitation; autism spectrum disorder; imitation,

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