One of the most commonly expressed myths about autism is that autistic people don’t feel emotions or empathy. This misconception not only misrepresents autistic people but also creates unnecessary barriers and misunderstandings.
The Myth: Autistic People Don’t Feel Emotions or Empathy
Emotion, the ability to experience and express feelings, is often wrongly assumed to be lacking in autistic people. This myth suggests that autistic individuals are unable to connect emotionally with others, making them seem distant, indifferent, and lacking in empathy.
The Reality: Theory of Mind and the Double Empathy Problem
The reality is that autistic people do experience emotions, often deeply, as well as empathy, though it may not be expressed in the same way as neurotypical people. To explore this further, it is helpful to understand the concepts of “theory of mind” and the “double empathy problem.”
Theory of Mind
Some autistic people struggle with "theory of mind". According to an article by Emma Hinze, Prof Tony Attwood and Dr Michelle Garnett, theory of mind is:
The ability to know how other people think or feel by making inferences about their facial expressions, tone of voice, gesture, and body language.
Theory of mind, also referred to as cognitive empathy, is different to affective empathy (the ability to feel what others feel). Unfortunately, a general lack of understanding of the different types of empathy have lead to the incorrect assumption that autistic people don't feel empathy.
The Double Empathy Problem
Dr. Damian Milton’s “double empathy problem” concept complements our understanding of theory of mind. It acknowledges that autistic people might experience challenges with cognitive empathy but argues that difficulties in communication and understanding occur in both directions – between autistic and non-autistic people. This is explained on the National Autistic Society website by Dr. Milton:
Simply put, the theory of the double empathy problem suggests that when people with very different experiences of the world interact with one another, they will struggle to empathise with each other. This is likely to be exacerbated through differences in language use and comprehension.
Conclusion
The myth that autistic people don’t feel emotions or empathy is incorrect and harmful. By understanding theory of mind and the double empathy problem, we can better appreciate the different ways in which emotions are experienced and expressed, and work towards being more inclusive and accepting of difference.
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