Article summary with Double empathy: Why autistic people are often misunderstood by Crompton a.o. - 2021

What is the double empathy problem?

The double empathy problem is a theory that views empathy as a two-way process that depends on our ways of doing things and our expectations from previous social experiences. Empathy is the ability to understand or be aware of the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of others. This is very differently experienced by autistic and non-autistic people. These differences can lead to a breakdown in communication. Communication barriers between autistic and non-autistic people make it more difficult for them to share experiences, connect, and empathize. 

Why is it called a double problem?

There is a two-way problem when autistic and non-autistic people interact. Both autistic and non-autistic people struggle to understand each other, even though autistic people understand other autistic people just fine, and non-autistic people understand other non-autistic people just fine. It is a struggle on both sides of communication:

• Autistic people may struggle to manage sensory distractions, read between the lines, and overcome other people's misconceptions about autism.
• Non-autistic people may struggle to recognize and understand autism, form positive first impressions, and imagine autistic sensory difficulties.

How do negative first impressions influence communication?

Non-autistic people find it hard to understand autistic people and often like them less. They tend to form negative first impressions about them. Research suggests that it is not the content of what the autistic person is saying, but the way they appear and sound. Non-autistic people then become less interested in interacting with them. This means that autistic people have fewer opportunities to meet people and make friends (in the non-autistic population). 

Why do autistic people connect more easily to other autistic people?

The quality of interactions between two autistic people is just as strong as between two non-autistic people. Autistic people are less likely to rely on typical social expectations for interaction and are less upset when such expectations are not followed. They give each other more freedom to express themselves in unique ways.