Double empathy problem: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:41, 8 December 2024

Revision as of 05:17, 9 December 2024

Line 26:

Around the early 2010s, academics began to suggest that some studies of theory-of-mind and empathy tests may have misinterpreted autistic people having difficulty understanding non-autistic or [[neurotypical]] people as being an intrinsic social deficit present in autistic individuals. They argued that it seemed more likely that autistic people were specifically having trouble understanding neurotypical people in some contexts, due to differences in experiences and social-cognition between the two groups.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jackson-Perry |first=David |date=2017-09-14 |title=Autism and Asperger syndrome in adults |journal=Disability & Society |volume=32 |issue=8 |pages=1280–1282 |doi=10.1080/09687599.2017.1362181 |s2cid=149435804 |issn=0968-7599|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rogers |first1=Kimberley |last2=Dziobek |first2=Isabel |last3=Hassenstab |first3=Jason |last4=Wolf |first4=Oliver T. |last5=Convit |first5=Antonio |date=2007-04-01 |title=Who Cares? Revisiting Empathy in Asperger Syndrome |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0197-8 |journal=Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders |language=en |volume=37 |issue=4 |pages=709–715 |doi=10.1007/s10803-006-0197-8 |issn=1573-3432 |pmid=16906462 |s2cid=13999363|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The theory of the double empathy problem was coined in 2012 by Damian Milton as a counter-theory to mind-blindness in an effort to explain this [[phenomenon]] of mutual misunderstanding, defined as follows:<blockquote>The "double empathy problem": a disjuncture in reciprocity between two differently disposed social actors which becomes more marked the wider the disjuncture in dispositional perceptions of the [[lifeworld]] – perceived as a breach in the "natural attitude" of what constitutes "social reality" for "non-autistic spectrum" people and yet an everyday and often traumatic experience for "autistic people".<ref name=":1" /></blockquote>The claim that autism is characterized by a lack of social or emotional reciprocity has become a [[truism]] in academia; for instance, in a 2004 research article examining a [[AVPR1A|hypothesized autism susceptibility gene]], the opening line simply stated, without any scientific citations or supporting data, that "impaired reciprocal social interaction is one of the core features of autism".<ref name=":31" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wassink |first1=T. H. |last2=Piven |first2=J. |last3=Vieland |first3=V. J. |last4=Pietila |first4=J. |last5=Goedken |first5=R. J. |last6=Folstein |first6=S. E. |last7=Sheffield |first7=V. C. |date=2004-04-06 |title=Examination of AVPR1a as an autism susceptibility gene |journal=[[Molecular Psychiatry]] |language=en |volume=9 |issue=10 |pages=968–972 |doi=10.1038/sj.mp.4001503 |issn=1359-4184 |pmid=15098001 |s2cid=238751|doi-access= }}</ref> The double empathy theory, subsequent findings, and findings in the broader theory of mind and empathy literature in the past two to three decades contest common assumptions about autistic people in the fields of psychology and [[psychiatry]], which are often riddled with information regarding autism and theory of mind (e.g., autistic people are universally deficient in empathy or theory of mind) that is outdated, overgeneralized, empirically questionable with inconsistent findings, and potentially societally harmful, but still often assumed by some researchers, educators, students, and practitioners as factual.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":31" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Marocchini |first=Eleonora |date=2023-02-01 |title=Impairment or difference? The case of Theory of Mind abilities and pragmatic competence in the Autism Spectrum |journal=[[Applied Psycholinguistics]] |volume=44 |issue=3 |language=en |pages=365–383 |doi=10.1017/S0142716423000024 |issn=0142-7164 |s2cid=256541508|doi-access=free }}</ref>

While the concept of double empathy had existed in prior publications,<ref name=":29" /><ref name=":31">{{Cite journal |last=Gernsbacher |first=Morton Ann |date=2006 |title=Toward a Behavior of Reciprocity |journal=The Journal of Developmental Processes |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=139–152|pmid=25598865 |pmc=4296736 }}</ref> Milton named and significantly expanded on it.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rozsa |first=Matthew |date=2021-06-06 |title=Being autistic may amount to a language difference — not an impairment |url=https://www.salon.com/2021/06/06/being-autistic-may-amount-to-a-language-difference-not-an-impairment/ |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=[[Salon.com|Salon]] |language=en}}</ref> Since 2015, there has been an increasing number of research studies, including experimental studies, qualitative research, and real-life social interaction studies, many of which emerging under the banner of [[critical autism studies]] and [[neurodiversity paradigm]], supporting the double empathy theory and the findings appear generally consistent.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":33" /><ref name=":22" /><ref name=":39" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":14">{{Cite journal |last1=Rifai |first1=Olivia M. |last2=Fletcher-Watson |first2=Sue |last3=Jiménez-Sánchez |first3=Lorena |last4=Crompton |first4=Catherine J. |date=2022-03-01 |title=Investigating Markers of Rapport in Autistic and Nonautistic Interactions |journal=[[Autism in Adulthood]] |language=en |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=3–11 |doi=10.1089/aut.2021.0017 |issn=2573-9581 |pmc=8992924 |pmid=36600904}}</ref><ref name=":20">{{Cite journal |last1=Scheerer |first1=Nichole E. |last2=Boucher |first2=Troy Q. |last3=Sasson |first3=Noah J. |last4=Iarocci |first4=Grace |date=2022-09-01 |title=Effects of an Educational Presentation About Autism on High School Students' Perceptions of Autistic Adults |journal=Autism in Adulthood |volume=4 |issue=3 |pages=203–213 |doi=10.1089/aut.2021.0046 |issn=2573-9581 |pmc=9645669 |pmid=36606156 }}</ref><ref name=":17">{{cite journal |last1=Bolis |first1=Dimitris |last2=Lahnakoski |first2=Juha M. |last3=Seidel |first3=Daniela |last4=Tamm |first4=Jeanette |last5=Schilbach |first5=Leonhard |date=2020-10-26 |title=Interpersonal similarity of autistic traits predicts friendship quality |url=https://academic.oup.com/scan/article/16/1-2/222/5940490 |journal=Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience |publisher=Oxford University Press |volume=16 |issue=1–2 |pages=222–231 |doi=10.1093/scan/nsaa147 |issn=1749-5016 |pmc=7812635 |pmid=33104781 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=":35">{{cite journal |last1=Morrison |first1=Kerrianne E. |last2=Debrabander |first2=Kilee M. |last3=Jones |first3=Desiree R. |last4=Faso |first4=Daniel J. |last5=Ackerman |first5=Robert A. |last6=Sasson |first6=Noah J. |year=2020 |title=Outcomes of real-world social interaction for autistic adults paired with autistic compared to typically developing partners |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1362361319892701 |journal=Autism |volume=24 |issue=5 |pages=1067–1080 |doi=10.1177/1362361319892701 |pmid=31823656 |s2cid=209317731|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name=":32">{{cite journal |last1=Crompton |first1=Catherine J. |last2=Hallett |first2=Sonny |last3=Ropar |first3=Danielle |last4=Flynn |first4=Emma |last5=Fletcher-Watson |first5=Sue |year=2020 |title='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 |journal=Autism |volume=24 |issue=6 |pages=1438–1448 |doi=10.1177/1362361320908976 |pmc=7376620 |pmid=32148068}}</ref><ref name=":19">{{cite journal |last1=Williams |first1=Gemma L. |last2=Wharton |first2=Tim |last3=Jagoe |first3=Caroline |year=2021 |title=Mutual (Mis)understanding: Reframing Autistic Pragmatic "Impairments" Using Relevance Theory |journal=Frontiers in Psychology |volume=12 |page=616664 |doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2021.616664 |pmc=8117104 |pmid=33995177 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Chen |first1=Yu-Lun |last2=Schneider |first2=Maxwell |last3=Patten |first3=Kristie |date=2022-07-22 |title=Exploring the role of interpersonal contexts in peer relationships among autistic and non-autistic youth in integrated education |journal=Frontiers in Psychology |volume=13 |pages=946651 |doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2022.946651 |issn=1664-1078 |pmc=9355587 |pmid=35936294 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=":16" /><ref name=":37">{{Cite journal |last1=Granieri |first1=Jessica E. |last2=McNair |first2=Morgan L. |last3=Gerber |first3=Alan H. |last4=Reifler |first4=Rebecca F. |last5=Lerner |first5=Matthew D. |date=2020-06-04 |title=Atypical social communication is associated with positive initial impressions among peers with autism spectrum disorder |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1362361320924906 |journal=Autism |language=en |volume=24 |issue=7 |pages=1841–1848 |doi=10.1177/1362361320924906 |pmid=32498545 |s2cid=219331201 |issn=1362-3613|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name=":48">{{Cite journal |last1=Glass |first1=Devyn |last2=Yuill |first2=Nicola |date=2023-06-13 |title=Moving Together: Social Motor Synchrony in Autistic Peer Partners Depends on Partner and Activity Type |journal=Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders |volume=54 |issue=8 |pages=2874–2890 |language=en |doi=10.1007/s10803-023-05917-8 |pmid=37310543 |s2cid=259147542 |issn=1573-3432|doi-access=free |pmc=11300670 }}</ref>{{Excessive citations inline|date=August 2024}}

In the past few years, the double empathy theory has been supported or positively recognized by some autism researchers, including Catherine Crompton,<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":14" /><ref name=":32" /> [[Morton Ann Gernsbacher]],<ref name=":7" /> Baron-Cohen himself,<ref name=":27" /><ref name=":28" /><ref name=":26" /> Elizabeth Pellicano,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Pellicano |first1=Elizabeth |last2=Heyworth |first2=Melanie |date=2023-08-08 |title=The Foundations of Autistic Flourishing |journal=Current Psychiatry Reports |language=en |volume=25 |issue=9 |pages=419–427 |doi=10.1007/s11920-023-01441-9 |issn=1523-3812 |pmc=10506917 |pmid=37552401}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Pellicano |first1=Elizabeth |last2=Lawson |first2=Wenn |last3=Hall |first3=Gabrielle |last4=Mahony |first4=Joanne |last5=Lilley |first5=Rozanna |last6=Heyworth |first6=Melanie |last7=Clapham |first7=Hayley |last8=Yudell |first8=Michael |date=2022-06-01 |title="I Knew She'd Get It, and Get Me": Participants' Perspectives of a Participatory Autism Research Project |journal=Autism in Adulthood |language=en |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=120–129 |doi=10.1089/aut.2021.0039 |issn=2573-9581 |pmc=9645671 |pmid=36605972}}</ref><ref name=":42" /> and Sue Fletcher-Watson, the [[editor-in-chief]] of the [[academic journal]] ''[[Autism (journal)|Autism]]''.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":38" /><ref name=":14" /><ref name=":32" /> The theory has also been approached by research projects in various disciplinary areas,<ref name=":9" /> including but not limited to psychology, sociology,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Milton |first=Damian E. M. |date=2016-11-25 |title=Disposable dispositions: reflections upon the work of Iris Marion Young in relation to the social oppression of autistic people |journal=Disability & Society |language=en |volume=31 |issue=10 |pages=1403–1407 |doi=10.1080/09687599.2016.1263468 |s2cid=151500732 |issn=0968-7599|doi-access=free |url=http://kar.kent.ac.uk/62744/1/Disposable%20dispositions%20ppt.pdf }}</ref> philosophy,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Chapman |first=Robert |date=2019-07-04 |title=Autism as a Form of Life: Wittgenstein and the Psychological Coherence of Autism: Autism as a Form of Life |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/meta.12366 |journal=[[Metaphilosophy (journal)|Metaphilosophy]] |language=en |volume=50 |issue=4 |pages=421–440 |doi=10.1111/meta.12366 |s2cid=181423539|url-access=subscription }}</ref> [[neuroscience]],<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Peng |first1=Xinyue |last2=Li |first2=Tianbi |last3=Liu |first3=Guangfang |last4=Ni |first4=Wei |last5=Yi |first5=Li |date=2024-05-02 |title=Enhanced neural synchronization during social communications between dyads with high autistic traits |url=https://academic.oup.com/cercor/article/34/13/104/7661140 |journal=Cerebral Cortex |language=en |volume=34 |issue=13 |pages=104–111 |doi=10.1093/cercor/bhae027 |pmid=38696603 |issn=1047-3211}}</ref> [[linguistics]],<ref name=":19" /> [[film studies]],<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Eastwood |first1=Steven |last2=Evans |first2=Bonnie |last3=Gaigg |first3=Sebastian |last4=Harbord |first4=Janet |last5=Milton |first5=Damian |date=2022-02-07 |title=Autism through cinema: co-creation and the unmaking of knowledge |journal=International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education |language=en |pages=1–18 |doi=10.1080/09518398.2022.2025492 |s2cid=246669071 |issn=0951-8398|doi-access=free |url=https://kar.kent.ac.uk/97643/1/Autism_through_cinema_co_creation_and_th62612.pdf }}</ref> and [[design]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Gaudion |first1=Katie |last2=Hall |first2=Ashley |last3=Myerson |first3=Jeremy |last4=Pellicano |first4=Liz |date=June 2014 |title=Design and wellbeing: Bridging the empathy gap between neurotypical designers and autistic adults |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/43099269.pdf |journal=Design for Sustainable Wellbeing and Empowerment |volume=2014 |pages=61–77}}</ref>