Double empathy
The idea that difficulties in understanding between people with and without autism run in both directions. Several small studies support this; it remains a subject of research.
- Also called
- double empathy problem
The concept of double empathy holds that difficulties in understanding between people with and without autism are mutual. In an experiment, groups of people with autism passed on information as effectively as groups without autism, while mixed groups did so less effectively. [1] In another study, observers without autism rated mixed conversations worst. [2] The samples were small and not representative.
More: Empathy and autism.
Sources and literature
- Crompton CJ, Ropar D, Evans-Williams CV, Flynn EG, Fletcher-Watson S: Autistic peer-to-peer information transfer is highly effective. Autism 2020;24(7):1704–1712. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361320919286 (PMID 32431157)
- Jones DR, Botha M, Ackerman RA, King K, Sasson NJ: Non-autistic observers both detect and demonstrate the double empathy problem when evaluating interactions between autistic and non-autistic adults. Autism 2024;28(8):2053–2065 (online 2023). https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613231219743 (PMC11308351)
In detail: Empathy and autism: a widespread misunderstanding
Articles on this term
Knowledge articleUnderstanding autism
Empathy and autism: a widespread misunderstanding
Related terms
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