What is the double empathy problem? And how do we fix it?

One of the most common presumptions of autism is that autistic people lack empathy. The National Autisitc Society’s article “Autism and empathy” claims that this belief stems from a series of works published by Simon Baron-Cohen and his colleagues in the early 2000’s. One of the key takeaways from these works, according to the National Autisitic Society, was that autistic people had an “empathy deficit” compared to neurotypicals. This was regarded as a milestone in shaping public perception of autism and autistic people.

However, as an autistic person myself, I’ve found that I and others with autism can most certainly can empathize. In fact, given how powerfully we feel our emotions, most of us experience empathy profoundly more deeply than the average neurotypical person. The intensity of our emotional experiences may cause some to label autistic people as “sensitive” or “dramatic”. But this sensation also enables us to comprehend the intricacies of not only our emotions, but others’ emotions as well. Thus, many autisitc people experience what is commonly referred to as “hyper empathy”.

So why does this belief still exist in neurotypical society, then? The problem lies in the disconnect between neurotypicals and people with autism or other neurodivergence. Differences in how the neurodivergent brain operates in comparison to a neurotypical brain causes neurodivergents to struggle with comprehending how a “normal” person thinks, feels, and acts, which in turn makes empathy difficult. Similarly, a neurotypical individual often finds it challenging to grasp the contrasts in neurodivergent behavior, emotion, and thought. As a result, neurotypicals struggle to empathize with a neurodivergent. This issue is called the “double empathy problem”.

The double empathy problem and the scientific theory of it have recently become subjects of interest in professional research. In his article “The Double Empathy Problem”, Dr. Damian Milton of the National Autistic Society says, “More recently research by Elizabeth Sheppard and team at the University of Nottingham, Brett Heasman at the London School of Economics, and Noah Sasson at the University of Texas at Dallas, have shown that in experimental conditions, non-autistic people struggled to read the emotions of autistic participants, or form negative first impressions of autistic people…According to the theory of the ‘double empathy problem’, these issues are not due to autistic cognition alone, but a breakdown in reciprocity and mutual understanding that can happen between people with very differing ways of experiencing the world. If one has ever experienced a conversation with someone who one does not share a first language with, or even an interest in the topic of a conversation, one may experience something similar (albeit probably briefly)”. Dr. Milton’s explanation provides not only a clear comparison to the communication barrier between people with and without autism, but more context as to why miscommunication happens. Thanks to the works of Elizabeth Sheppard, Brett Heasman, and Noah Sasson, we now know that the divide that causes double empathy problem is rooted in not only in differing views of behavior, thinking, and emotions, but also through misinterpretation of nonverbal cues and one’s personal biases. Though Dr. Milton’s article and cited works focused solely on neurotypicals perceiving autism, it’s not unreasonable to assume that these factors also influence how neurodivergents view neurotypicals in turn. Given that the cause of the core issue seems to be functional differences between neurotypical and neurodivergent brains, the misinterpretation, miscommunication, and lack of understanding between the two groups is an issue that affects and impacts both parties.

All of this information begs the question, “How can we solve the double empathy problem”? Michelle Garnett and Tony Attwood of Attwood & Garnett Events offer 3 rules to remember in their article “Bridging the Double Empathy Divide: What Neurotypical Partners Can Learn”. These rules are, “ 1. Recognise your own interpretive lens. 2. Slow down judgment and increase curiosity. 3. Lean into honest feedback loops”. Charlotte Valeur of the Institute of Neurodiversity (ION) adds 6 steps to foster empathy across different neurotypes in their article “The Double Empathy Problem”. Her suggestions are:

1. “Acknowledge Difference: Neuromajority individuals must recognise that neurominorities experience and interpret the world differently to them. These differences are not deficiencies, but variations in human cognition that deserve respect, accommodation and appreciation.
2. Learn About Neurodiversity: Education is a powerful tool. The Neuromajority should actively seek to learn more about neurodiversity, challenging assumptions about what constitutes “normal” behaviour and communication.
3. Adopt Flexible Communication: Instead of expecting neurominority people to adapt to neuromajority norms, neuromajorities can practice flexibility in communication. This might mean being more explicit in verbal communication, avoiding idiomatic language, or accepting different forms of social interaction.
4. Create Inclusive Spaces: Whether in the workplace, schools, or social settings, neuromajorities have the power to create environments that are inclusive of neurominorities ways of being. This could involve adjusting sensory inputs, allowing time for processing, or reframing social expectations.
5. Practice Active Empathy: Neuromajorities should make an active effort to empathise with neurominorities by asking questions, listening without judgment, and avoiding assumptions based on their own social experiences.
6. Widen “the box”. We can all work together to widen the set written and unwritten rules of what is considered “normal”. We are all human beings inhabiting planet Earth. We, alongside all other species on earth, have developed in ways that nature finds optimal for the survival of the human species. Maybe the historical focus on the “normal human” fitting into a small box has in fact disadvantaged us beyond belief.”

Garnett, Attwood and Valeur are simply asking for neurotypicals/neuromajorities and neurodivergents/neurominorities to recognize that perceptions will vary, set aside judgment and assumption to make room for curiousity and learning, remember and honor boundaries and differences, and work together to find a communication style that suits both parties.

Now that you understand what the double empathy problem is and what can be done about it, I hope you’ll carry these lessons out into your personal life. The advice of Valeur, Attwood and Garnett proves that bridging the divide between neurodivergents and neurotypicals is possible. We just need to open our minds, respect each other and work together.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this today. And as always, keep blooming.

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Sources:

https://www.autism.org.uk/learn/knowledge-hub/professional-practice/autism-and-empathy

https://www.autism.org.uk/learn/knowledge-hub/professional-practice/double-empathy

https://www.attwoodandgarnettevents.com/blogs/news/bridging-the-double-empathy-divide-what-neurotypical-partners-can-learn

https://ioneurodiversity.org/the-double-empathy-problem/