Which statement best describes 'social-emotional reciprocity'?

The concept of 'social-emotional reciprocity' refers to the ability of individuals to engage in back-and-forth interactions in social contexts, which includes effectively responding to and sharing emotions with others. This includes the capacity for initiating, sustaining, and responding to social exchanges in a way that is typical for their developmental level.

The correct choice highlights that social-emotional reciprocity can manifest as a failure to engage in normal conversational exchanges, which is often seen in individuals with autism. This lack of reciprocity can be characterized by difficulties in understanding social cues, which can lead to a reduced ability to participate in mutual emotional exchanges and conversational interactions.

In contrast, other choices address various aspects of social interactions but do not encapsulate the core concept of social-emotional reciprocity as effectively. High levels of emotional sharing suggest strong reciprocity rather than the absence of it, consistent initiation of social interactions points to active engagement rather than an understanding of reciprocation, and resistance to change in social behavior indicates inflexibility rather than the dynamics of emotional interchange.