Crianças e adolescentes com Transtorno do Espectro Autista e jogos de realidade virtual: uma análise da experiência perceptiva

Abstract

This study aims to describe and analyze the perceptual experience about the body and emotions of children and adolescents with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It contemplates dialogues between the results and foundations of Merleau-Ponty's phenomenology and philosophy and the anthropology of David Le Breton. This paper is a phenomenological qualitative research comprising the stages of ideographic and nomothetic analysis, performed with eight subjects between 7 and 18 years old. Data collection occurred in a standardized environment, using the same virtual reality device: Oculus Quest 2. After the games, we collected the narratives through semistructured interviews. The reports were transcribed, categorized, and analyzed for the assignment of meanings by the researcher. As an outcome, children and adolescents with ASD attributed positive and negative emotional perceptions to the experience with RV games. They perceive the body by performing lucid recognition and integrating the relationship between virtual and physical means, seeking to explore the boundaries of the virtualized body and the space in which it is within. The perception of individuals relates to their familiarity with experience. Besides, the narratives about emotions were more complex and contrasting. For the body, the idea of immersion was present altogether. There was the notion of less reality in the scenario and the body.