The Double Empathy Problem
Have you heard the myth that autistic people lack empathy? This narrative has dominated the public’s (mis)understanding of autism until recently. But where did this myth come from?
In the past, it was suggested that an autistic person’s (‘lack of’) ability to empathise might explain the differences in communication styles between autistic and non-autistic people. Research suggested (e.g. Baron-Cohen, Leslie & Frith, 1985; Decety and Moriguchi, 2007) that autistic people may struggle to communicate because they can’t always put themselves in a neurotypical person’s shoes.
We now know that this view is deeply flawed. It is steeped in neuronormativity (seeing neurotypical ways of being as the baseline), it is deficit-focused, and misses the point that actually, autistic people don’t lack empathy at all. As a clinical psychologist working alongside neurodivergent people, the ‘lack of empathy’ myth is one that I think deserves to be busted.
Being a hyper-empath
In the clinic room, autistic people describe to me their experience of deeply feeling: experiencing the emotions of others, sometimes overwhelmingly so. This is called hyper-empathy. Being highly attuned to someone else’s emotion and feeling it so keenly has been described to me as painful by some autistic people. Neurotypical people can struggle to understand the all-consuming experience of hyper-empathy, and unfortunately this experience is usually overlooked in research, leading to more myths around the autistic experience.
A lack of understanding of the neurodivergent perspective and experience can result in invalidation and dismissal by others
Autistic people absolutely can empathise, and they may empathise differently to neurotypical people. Some autistic people may find empathy more difficult: just like for neurotypical people, there is likely to be a natural diversity in anyone’s ability to empathise. However, the problem occurs when assumptions are made based on research generated from a neurotypical standpoint.
A lack of understanding of the neurodivergent perspective and experience can result in invalidation and dismissal by others. This is one example of a microaggression that neurodivergent people can experience day to day, which unfortunately can lead to the development of mental health difficulties. This is why we need more research by neurodivergent people and from the neurodivergent perspective.
The double-empathy problem
The theory of ‘The Double Empathy Problem’ begins to explain what might really be going on in social interactions. This theory suggests that any difficulties that occur in social interaction, happen between people, rather than indicating a problem within one (i.e. the autistic) person. It can be viewed as a case of a mutual misunderstanding. The Double Empathy problem can happen to anyone – but it is perhaps more likely if two people do not share a similar way of viewing the world, as can be the case between neurodivergent and neurotypical people.
So, here’s the interesting thing: research by Crompton and her colleagues in 2020 suggested that when autistic people talk to autistic people, they can convey the same amount and quality of information as when non-autistic people talk to non-autistic people. When the communication is between neurotypical and autistic people however, the information is shared less effectively, and both people reported feeling less mutual rapport. This illustrates the Double Empathy problem– the struggle occurs on both sides.
Even people who aren’t directly involved in an interaction can be affected by the Double Empathy theory. Jones and her colleagues (2023) found that a neurotypical observer judged a neurotypical-neurodivergent interaction more negatively than the people who were having the conversation. This showed that observers can also be subjected to the Double Empathy problem, not just the people who are experiencing the interaction.
Why is this important?
Knowing about the Double Empathy problem could be useful for you if you live in a family of mixed neurotypes and you experience miscommunication between you and your neurotypical partner, or child. It can be helpful to know that other neurodivergent people might experience this too, and that the problem doesn’t exist within you but within the interaction itself. This can help us to think about ways to perhaps improve communication between people, not by masking, but by thinking of this as a joint problem to be mutually overcome.
It can be helpful to know that other neurodivergent people might experience this too, and that the problem doesn’t exist within you but within the interaction itself.
Learning about the Double Empathy problem is important more broadly as we try to dismantle neuronormativity and move towards creating a more neuroinclusive world. Creating neuroaffirming environments in the family home, workplace and in schools is part of our mission at The Neurodiversity Practice.
What next?
The Double Empathy Problem theory is around ten years old and it needs more research, but what do you think? Do you experience an easier style of communicating when you’re with other autistic people or ADHDers, compared to neurotypicals?
If you want to join in the discussion further, why don’t you join our community, the Neurodivergent Parent Space at The Neurodiversity Practice? The Neurodivergent Parent Space is a vibrant community of neurodivergent parents who have come together to create a space of understanding, support, and empowerment. This space is the opportunity to be around other neurodivergent parents, sharing in ways which you feel most comfortable.
References:
Baron-Cohen S, Leslie AM, Frith U. Does the autistic child have a "theory of mind"? Cognition. 1985;21:37–46.
Decety J, Moriguchi Y. The empathic brain and its dysfunction in psychiatric populations: implications for intervention across different clinical conditions. Biopsychosoc Med. 2007 Nov 16;1:22. doi: 10.1186/1751-0759-1-22.
