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The Autistic community speaks frequently of “the double empathy problem.” This handout explains the context of this term in research literature. The double empathy problem refers to the concept that it is easier to guess what someone else is thinking if they share the same neurotype, communication values, cognitive style, and language culture; and that any difficulties that exist go both ways.
The double empathy problem means there are cross-cultural communication difficulties between allistics and Autistics, and that ultimately, we all communicate better and easier with people with the same neurotype as ourselves.
References:
Baron-Cohen, S. (1995). Mindblindness: An essay on autism and theory of mind. The MIT Press.
Baron-Cohen, S., Leslie, A. M., & Frith, U. (1985). Does the autistic child have a “theory of mind”?. Cognition, 21(1), 37–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-0277(85)90022-8
Cheang, R. T., Skjevling, M., Blakemore, A. I., Kumari, V., & Puzzo, I. (2024). Do you feel me? Autism, empathic accuracy and the double empathy problem. Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 13623613241252320. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613241252320
Crompton, C. J., Hallett, S., Ropar, D., Flynn, E., & Fletcher-Watson, S. (2020a). ‘I never realised everybody felt as happy as I do when I am around autistic people’: A thematic analysis of autistic adults’ relationships with autistic and neurotypical friends and family. Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 24(6), 1438–1448. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361320908976
Crompton, C. J., Ropar, D., Evans-Williams, C. V., Flynn, E. G., & Fletcher-Watson, S. (2020b). Autistic peer-to-peer information transfer is highly effective. Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 24(7), 1704–1712. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361320919286
Crompton, C. J., Sharp, M., Axbey, H., Fletcher-Watson, S., Flynn, E. G., & Ropar, D. (2020c). Neurotype-Matching, but Not Being Autistic, Influences Self and Observer Ratings of Interpersonal Rapport. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 586171. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.586171
Edey, R., Cook, J., Brewer, R., Johnson, M. H., Bird, G., & Press, C. (2016). Interaction takes two: Typical adults exhibit mind-blindness towards those with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 125(7), 879–885. https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000199
Gernsbacher, M. A., & Yergeau, M. (2019). Empirical failures of the claim that autistic people lack a theory of mind.Archives of Scientific Psychology, 7(1), 102–118. https://doi.org/10.1037/arc0000067
James, Z. (2024, April 17). Hot topics in the Autism community: The double empathy problem. Minnesota Autism Conference 2024, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
Milton, D. (2012) On the ontological status of autism: The “double empathy problem.” Disability & Society, 27(6), 883-887. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09687599.2012.710008
Rifai, O. M., Fletcher-Watson, S., Jiménez-Sánchez, L., & Crompton, C. J. (2022). Investigating Markers of Rapport in Autistic and Nonautistic Interactions. Autism in adulthood : challenges and management, 4(1), 3–11. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2021.0017
Sheppard, E., Pillai, D., Wong, G.TL. et al. (2016). How easy is it to read the minds of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder?. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46, 1247–1254. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2662-8
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