Do neurotypical people like or dislike autistic people?

Alkhaldi, Rabi Samil; Sheppard, Elizabeth; Burdett, Emily; Mitchell, Peter

Abstract

Background: This study investigated whether neurotypical individuals’ judgments that they dislike a person are more common when viewing autistic individuals than when viewing neurotypical individuals. Methods: Videos of autistic and neurotypical targets were presented to a group of perceivers (neurotypical adults) who were asked whether or not they liked each target and why. Results: It was more common for perceivers to ‘like’ neurotypical than autistic targets. The number of ‘likes’ each target received correlated highly with perceiver ratings of target social favorability. Perceivers cited perceived awkwardness and lack of empathy as being reasons for deciding they disliked targets. Conclusions: The findings shed light on how neurotypical people (mis)perceive autistic people. Such perceptions may act as a barrier to social integration for autistic people.

Citation

Alkhaldi, R. S., Sheppard, E., Burdett, E., & Mitchell, P. (2021). Do neurotypical people like or dislike autistic people?. Autism in Adulthood, 3(3), https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2020.0059

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 11, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Mar 26, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Deposit Date: Jan 13, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 27, 2022
• Journal: Autism in Adulthood
• Print ISSN: 2573-9581
• Electronic ISSN: 2573-959X
• Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 3
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2020.0059
• Keywords: autism; social favorability; mind reading; social interaction; person perception
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5225470
• Publisher URL: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/aut.2020.0059