Autism and the double empathy problem: Implications for development and mental health

Mitchell, Peter; Sheppard, Elizabeth; Cassidy, Sarah

Abstract

Autism and the double empathy problem: Implications for development and mental health This article explores how the experience of living in a largely neurotypical society could hinder development of abilities which allow smooth interactions between autistic 1 and neurotypical people. Autism is classified as a lifelong developmental condition marked by difficulties with social communication coupled with a restricted range of interests (DSM-5; APA, 2013). However, a particular aim of the article is to explore how being misunderstood or misperceived by other people could create a barrier to participation in social experiences for the minority-autistic people. We argue that this barrier acts to prevent both groups (autistic and non-autistic people) from having otherwise valuable opportunities to learn about each other's social behaviour and about how to interpret signals emanating from the other group. These signals can be informative about inner states (like what the person is thinking or how they feel-e.g.

Citation

Mitchell, P., Sheppard, E., & Cassidy, S. (2021). Autism and the double empathy problem: Implications for development and mental health. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 39(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjdp.12350

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 26, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jan 4, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Deposit Date: Sep 1, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 5, 2022
• Journal: British Journal of Developmental Psychology
• Print ISSN: 0261-510X
• Electronic ISSN: 2044-835X
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 39
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 1-18
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjdp.12350
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4871895
• Publisher URL: https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjdp.12350