Double empathy problem

Both autistic and non-autistic people can find it difficult to empathize with each other. The fact that both people in the interaction have trouble with understanding and empathy is why the theory is called the "double empathy problem".[1]
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The theory of the double empathy problem is a psychological and sociological theory first coined in 2012 by Damian Milton, an autistic autism researcher.[2] This theory proposes that many of the difficulties autistic individuals face when socializing with non-autistic individuals are due, in part, to a lack of mutual understanding between the two groups, meaning that most autistic people struggle to understand and empathize with non-autistic people, whereas most non-autistic people also struggle to understand and empathize with autistic people. This lack of understanding may stem from bidirectional differences in communication style, social-cognitive characteristics, and experiences between autistic and non-autistic individuals, but not necessarily an inherent deficiency. Recent studies have shown that most autistic individuals are able to socialize, communicate effectively,[3] empathize well or build good rapport,[4][5][6][7][8] and display social reciprocity[9] with most other autistic individuals.[2][10] This theory and subsequent findings challenge the commonly held belief that the social skills of autistic individuals are inherently and universally impaired across contexts, as well as the theory of "mind-blindness" proposed by prominent autism researcher Simon Baron-Cohen in the mid-1990s, which suggested that empathy and theory of mind are universally impaired in autistic individuals.[11][12][13][14]

The double empathy concept has been consistently supported by a substantial number of studies in recent years and has the potential to radically shift goals of interventions and public psychoeducation regarding autism.[13][15][16][17] In recognition of recent findings that support the theory, Baron-Cohen positively recognized the theory of the double empathy problem in two research articles in 2018[18] and 2022,[19] as well as in multiple podcasts since 2020.[20][21]

  1. ^ Crompton, Catherine J.; DeBrabander, Kilee; Heasman, Brett; Milton, Damian; Sasson, Noah J. (2021-05-11). "Double Empathy: Why Autistic People Are Often Misunderstood". Frontiers for Young Minds. 9: 554875. doi:10.3389/frym.2021.554875. hdl:20.500.11820/94ee032a-6103-470a-bc06-08337dd6b512. ISSN 2296-6846.
  2. ^ a b Milton, Damian E. M. (October 2012). "On the ontological status of autism: the 'double empathy problem'" (PDF). Disability & Society. 27 (6): 883–887. doi:10.1080/09687599.2012.710008. ISSN 0968-7599. S2CID 54047060.
  3. ^ Crompton, Catherine J.; Ropar, Danielle; Evans-Williams, Claire V. M.; Flynn, Emma G.; Fletcher-Watson, Sue (2020). "Autistic peer-to-peer information transfer is highly effective". Autism. 24 (7): 1704–1712. doi:10.1177/1362361320919286. PMC 7545656. PMID 32431157.
  4. ^ Sheppard, Elizabeth; Webb, Sophie; Wilkinson, Helen (2023-11-18). "Mindreading beliefs in same- and cross-neurotype interactions". Autism. 28 (7): 1828–1837. doi:10.1177/13623613231211457. ISSN 1362-3613. PMC 11191369. PMID 37978869.
  5. ^ Szechy, Kathryn A.; Turk, Pamela D.; O'Donnell, Lisa A. (2023-08-17). "Autism and Employment Challenges: The Double Empathy Problem and Perceptions of an Autistic Employee in the Workplace". Autism in Adulthood. 6 (2): 205–217. doi:10.1089/aut.2023.0046. ISSN 2573-9581. S2CID 260998172.
  6. ^ Komeda, Hidetsugu; Kosaka, Hirotaka; Saito, Daisuke N.; Mano, Yoko; Jung, Minyoung; Fujii, Takeshi; Yanaka, Hisakazu T.; Munesue, Toshio; Ishitobi, Makoto; Sato, Makoto; Okazawa, Hidehiko (2014-10-20). "Autistic empathy toward autistic others". Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. 10 (2). Oxford University Press: 145–152. doi:10.1093/scan/nsu126. ISSN 1749-5016. PMC 4321632. PMID 25332405.
  7. ^ Komeda, Hidetsugu; Kosaka, Hirotaka; Fujioka, Toru; Jung, Minyoung; Okazawa, Hidehiko (2019-06-04). "Do Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders Help Other People With Autism Spectrum Disorders? An Investigation of Empathy and Helping Motivation in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder". Frontiers in Psychiatry. 10: 376. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00376. ISSN 1664-0640. PMC 6558937. PMID 31231254.
  8. ^ Crompton, Catherine J.; Sharp, Martha; Axbey, Harriet; Fletcher-Watson, Sue; Flynn, Emma G.; Ropar, Danielle (2020). "Neurotype-Matching, but Not Being Autistic, Influences Self and Observer Ratings of Interpersonal Rapport". Frontiers in Psychology. 11: 586171. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.586171. PMC 7645034. PMID 33192918.
  9. ^ Chen, Yu-Lun; Senande, Laura L.; Thorsen, Michael; Patten, Kristie (2021). "Peer preferences and characteristics of same-group and cross-group social interactions among autistic and non-autistic adolescents". Autism. 25 (7): 1885–1900. doi:10.1177/13623613211005918. PMC 8419288. PMID 34169757.
  10. ^ DeThorne, Laura S. (2020-03-01). "Revealing the Double Empathy Problem". The ASHA Leader. 25 (3): 58–65. doi:10.1044/leader.ftr2.25042020.58. S2CID 216359201.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference :10 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference :12 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ a b Boucher, Jill (2012). "Putting theory of mind in its place: psychological explanations of the socio-emotional-communicative impairments in autistic spectrum disorder". Autism. 16 (3): 226–246. doi:10.1177/1362361311430403. ISSN 1362-3613. PMID 22297199. S2CID 30738704.
  14. ^ Shanker, Stuart (2004-10-01). "The Roots of Mindblindness". Theory & Psychology. 14 (5): 685–703. doi:10.1177/0959354304046179. ISSN 0959-3543. S2CID 143801835.
  15. ^ Gernsbacher, Morton Ann; Yergeau, Melanie (2019). "Empirical Failures of the Claim That Autistic People Lack a Theory of Mind". Archives of Scientific Psychology. 7 (1): 102–118. doi:10.1037/arc0000067. PMC 6959478. PMID 31938672.
  16. ^ Milton, Damian (2018-03-02). "The double empathy problem". National Autistic Society. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
  17. ^ Milton, Damian; Gurbuz, Emine; López, Beatriz (October 2022). "The 'double empathy problem': Ten years on". Autism. 26 (8): 1901–1903. doi:10.1177/13623613221129123. ISSN 1362-3613. PMID 36263746. S2CID 253020669.
  18. ^ Cassidy, Sarah; Bradley, Louise; Shaw, Rebecca; Baron-Cohen, Simon (2018-07-31). "Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults". Molecular Autism. 9 (1): 42. doi:10.1186/s13229-018-0226-4. ISSN 2040-2392. PMC 6069847. PMID 30083306.
  19. ^ Richards, Gareth; Baron-Cohen, Simon (2022-05-19). "Evidence of partner similarity for autistic traits, systemizing, and theory of mind via facial expressions". Scientific Reports. 12 (1): 8451. Bibcode:2022NatSR..12.8451R. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-11592-z. PMC 9118825. PMID 35589769.
  20. ^ "A Conversation About 'The Pattern Seekers' by Simon Baron-Cohen". 2020-12-19.
  21. ^ Wright, Robert; Baron-Cohen, Simon (2023-06-21). "Autism and the Two Kinds of Empathy". YouTube. Retrieved 2023-06-25.