8. Not Understanding What Others are Thinking or Feeling
People with autism spectrum disorder are sometimes described as having a lack of empathy (the ability to feel what others are feeling) and/or sympathy (the ability to feel for others). While this is a common perception of all people with autism, these difficulties do not affect everyone on the spectrum. Over the last 40 years, scientists have been studying the relationship between autism, empathy, and sympathy. It was always thought that a lack of empathy and sympathy was a universal attribute of autism, but new research shows that this varied across individuals with the illness. The problems of whether persons with autism actually empathize or sympathize with others, what prevents them from doing so, whether this can be taught, and whether an apparent lack of empathy or compassion truly represents a lack of emotional connectedness are more subtle than early studies indicated. A lack of expressing sympathy or empathy in someone with autism may not be related to a lack of feeling, but rather to underdeveloped skills. Empathy for others consists of various components. Empathy is a one-dimensional feeling. It is felt on two levels: cognitively (recognizing and understanding another’s mental state) and affectively (feeling the emotions of others). These sensations can sometimes appear contradictory in people with autism. People with autism may suffer with cognitive empathy, according to research, since they are unable to distinguish and describe emotions based on facial expressions. According to eye scan research, people with autism tend to glance at the peripheral of a face rather than the eyes and mouth, where emotions are generally portrayed. While cognitive empathy in people with autism may be reduced, affective empathy—which is based on instincts and involuntary responses to the emotions of others—can be intense and overwhelming. In fact, emerging research reveals that some persons with autism may be more sensitive to the emotions of others. Picking up on other people’s emotions and experiencing them inwardly can be overwhelming and confusing, leading to a person shutting down and withdrawing from crowds.
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