ABSTRACT
In autism assessment and treatment, social awareness informs how a person understands their place in the social landscape and how they navigate it. Social awareness puts the construct of self-awareness into a context that narrows it more specifically to how someone views themselves in the social landscape. Social awareness involves one’s ability to assess the role people play in social interactions and relationships. This psychological skill requires a person to accurately assess where they fit in with different social groups or scenarios. Social awareness deficits related to an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis describe specific core symptoms that are connected to the larger domain of social communication. Social supports can be a part of a lifesaving strategy for many clients who are suicidal because of the ability to help another person cope with their difficulties. Although social support plays a central role in healthy relationship functioning it is complex and difficult to effectively provide.
