Case Study 3: Intervention for Individuals with ASD Using Social Scripts and Dating Algori

Clinical Context and Pedagogical Diagnosis in Neurodiversity

The sexological approach to young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder requires an understanding of the peculiarities of cognitive processing characterized by literalism and difficulties with theory of mind.

In the digital environment of dating apps, these characteristics can lead to inappropriate behaviors, such as sending unsolicited genital images or exposure to situations of financial cyber-exploitation.

These actions do not stem from perverse impulses or malicious intent, but rather from a rigid interpretation of the stated purpose of these platforms.

The inability to infer others’ mental states leads to the assumption that direct anatomical exposure represents a logical shortcut to an erotic encounter.

A proactive institutional response should not be based on punitive bans on technological access, but rather on intensive digital emotional and sexual literacy that replaces isolation with explicit learning about relational interaction in the modern virtual network.

Design and Implementation of Visual Algorithms and Social Scripts

The pedagogical intervention plan is structured through the creation of social scripts and flowcharts integrated into users’ mobile devices.

This visual algorithm sequentially defines the mandatory phases of digital courtship, establishing clear operational boundaries: initiating conversation by exploring common interests, respecting the limit on unanswered messages as a sign of disinterest, and maintaining an absolute prohibition on sending intimate content or making financial transfers to unknown profiles.

Likewise, the intervention includes specific training in decoding implicit signals of consent and identifying risk indicators related to sextortion.

Through chat simulations and the analysis of hypothetical cases, young people learn to distinguish between formal politeness and explicit acceptance, understanding the reversibility of consent and the value of privacy in today’s virtual community sphere of social media and various existing digital platforms.

Results of the intervention and assertive digital competence

The application of this structured methodology makes it possible to permanently eradicate intrusive behaviors on social media, transforming the user’s behavior toward a model of assertive and safe communication.

By replacing impulsivity—which is often driven by cognitive rigidity—with logical interaction guidelines, vulnerability to potential scams is neutralized, and violations of third parties’ privacy are eliminated.

The success of the methodological algorithm is evident in the young person’s ability to arrange in-person meetings in safe public settings, independently applying the boundaries and protocols they have learned.

This case demonstrates that sexological psychoeducation tailored to neurodiversity not only prevents cybercrimes