Autism and the double empathy problem

Embedded within diagnostic criteria for autism is the idea that autistic people have impaired social understanding. A number of psychological theories suggest autistic people have a deficit in empathising with others or in ‘theory of mind’ – the ability to imagine the thoughts and feelings of others, in order to comprehend and predict their behaviour. It is certainly true that autistic people, particularly when young, can struggle to process and understand the ‘quick-fire’ social interactions which many non-autistic people take for granted. Yet to what extent do such interactions require empathy? To what extent do nonautistic people acquire a ‘theory of autistic mind’? What do we mean when we talk of empathy? Where does the ability to predict the thoughts and actions of others reside? This presentation reflects upon the concept of empathy in relation to autistic people and their interactions with non-autistic people, and describes the theory of the ‘double empathy problem’ and its implications for practice. According to the theory of the ‘double empathy problem’, these issues are due to a breakdown in reciprocity and mutual understanding that can happen between people of very differing dispositions.