Abstract

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. It is certainly true that autistic people, especially when young, can struggle to process and understand the ‘quick-fire’ social interactions that many non-autistic people take for granted. Yet to what extent do such interactions require empathy? To what extent do non-autistic people acquire a ‘theory of autistic mind’? Where does the ability to predict the thoughts and actions of others reside? This presentation reflects on the concept of empathy in relation to autistic people and their interactions with non-autistic people. 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 different dispositions. In this presentation, I reflect on the development of the concept through to more recent related empirical studies, as well as practical implications and potential new directions.

Damian works part-time for the Tizard Centre, University of Kent as a Senior Lecturer in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Damian’s interest in autism began when his son was diagnosed in 2005 as autistic at the age of two. Damian was also diagnosed with Asperger’s in 2009 at the age of thirty-six. Damian’s primary focus is on increasing the meaningful participation of autistic people and people with learning disabilities in the research process and chairs the Participatory Autism Research Collective (PARC).