Individuals with AS experience difficulties in basic elements of social interaction, which may include a failure to develop friendships or to seek shared enjoyments or achievements with others (for example, showing others objects of interest), a lack of social or emotional
reciprocity (social "games" give-and-take mechanic), and impaired
nonverbal behaviors in areas such as
eye contact,
facial expression, posture, and gesture.
[1]
[...]
People with AS may not be as withdrawn around others compared to those with other, more debilitating forms of
autism; they approach others, even if awkwardly. For example, a person with AS may engage in a one-sided, long-winded speech about a favorite topic, while misunderstanding or not recognizing the listener's feelings or reactions, such as a wish to change the topic of talk or end the interaction.
[9]This social awkwardness has been called "active but odd".
[1] This failure to react appropriately to social interaction may appear as disregard for other people's feelings, and may come across as insensitive.
[9]
[...]
The cognitive ability of children with AS often allows them to articulate
social norms in a laboratory context,
[1] where they may be able to show a theoretical understanding of other people's emotions; however, they typically have difficulty acting on this knowledge in fluid, real-life situations.
[9] People with AS may analyze and distill their observations of social interaction into rigid behavioral guidelines, and apply these rules in awkward ways, such as forced eye contact, resulting in a demeanor that appears rigid or socially naive.
[...]
People with Asperger syndrome display behavior, interests, and activities that are restricted and repetitive and are sometimes abnormally intense or focused.
[...]
Pursuit of specific and narrow areas of interest is one of the most striking features of AS.
[1]
