Asperger's theory does about-face

Post Reply New Topic

A groundbreaking study suggests people with autism-spectrum disorders such as Asperger's do not lack empathy – rather, they feel others' emotions too intensely to cope.
People with Asperger's syndrome, a high functioning form of autism, are often stereotyped as distant loners or robotic geeks. But what if what looks like coldness to the outside world is a response to being overwhelmed by emotion – an excess of empathy, not a lack of it?
This idea resonates with many people suffering from autism-spectrum disorders and their families. It also jibes with the "intense world" theory, a new way of thinking about the nature of autism: http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/633688

Interesting article. And what's more is how the research was done at my parents' former university.

This was already posted.

I'd have to agree with the article. At least for me, when a figure of perceived authority talks to me in a way that suggests I did something wrong, even at age 28 it still takes me all of my strength to choke back tears. It's foolish, and in hindsight, I don't see why I would have cried, but I almost always do. Unfortunately, this emotional response tends to make the other party lose respect for anything that I have to say and probably has cost me a job or two in the past (though it was not said explicitly).

There are other examples, but they're too numerous to just pick a few. So, I'll stick with just this one.

I don't think I agree with the premise.

I don't think that Aspies are necessarily more empathic than NTs.

But the stereotype (perceived by people who don't know anything about Aspies, including some psychiatrists and psychologists who don't have a specialism in the area) is that Aspies aren't empathic. At all.

I think one of the problems with diagnosis is that medical professionals with no particular expertise detect some level of empathy in their 'patients' and therefore rule out an autistic spectrum diagnosis.

But I certainly think that Aspies can be quite empathic, in the sense of appreciating that NTs find it easier to establish a rapport with strangers and to make friends and realising that they're different and there's something 'lacking'.

A lot of medical practitioners think that if you have that much insight and self-awareness, then that automatically rules you out for an autistic spectrum diagnosis. Wrong.

A few years ago, I was told that I couldn't possibly be Aspie, because I told the psychologist that my father had commented when I was I child that I didn't have friends, I had acquaintances, and I felt a definite difference, I felt a lack, I realised that other people established a rapport and friendships, but my relationships were more superficial.

But as for being hypersensitive in the sense of being overly empathic and going into some kind of empathy meltdown because of absorbing or appreciating others' feelings... nope. I think that's wrong. I do believe that Aspies can be and are very often hypersensitive. But I dispute that that is because of heightened empathy for others' feelings. I think that hypersensitivity is more often related to taking criticism *very* personally, it's more likely due to self-awareness and realising differences between themselves and NTs.

Thanks for sharing that article, that's a very interesting theory. I think there is a great deal about it that may be true.

Feeling emotion too intensely to cope and an excess of empathy. That's so me. It's a relief reading the OP.

The idea that AS is based on some kind of shellshock from taking it all in is a theory, but I don't feel that much fear with people.

And there are already scientific studes showing infants that simply don't understand single, uninterupted facial expressions, in a calm environment.

Given this and a no previous important input from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology I've heard of, I'm going to pin this on pop psychology for until it's challenged academically.

I think there are some aspies who do have excesses of empathy and a shutoff point. I dont fit this description though. I have had to work hard to find out what others feelings are. There was no deluge of feelings overwhelming me from people and there still isnt.

Interesting article. In some ways, it describes me quite well, although I often feel no empathy towards someone simply because I am unable to see what they are feeling, but i think that is what it is trying to say.

I agree with this. I cannot connect with others and also have a lot of sensory problems and hypersensitivity that makes it hard to be around others.

I have no shortage of my own feelings. But my own feelings as a reaction to others and to external stimuli have little to do with others and are very encased in my own being. I hope that makes sense.

If someone is crying before me i am often stony and cold.
I have long known that i am better one on one but cannot cope with groups because i get so intensely overwhelmed.

WHat happens when you look in someone's eyes" For me there is a fear and a complete clenching of the gut - a nausea. I cannot look into the eyes of others because it it too overwhelming.

Wow; that article quotes me.

Obviously, their description of oversensitivity fits me pretty well, but it seems based on posts in this thread that it's not characteristic of all Aspies. Still, I'm glad that people are rethinking the "lacks empathy" characteristic, since that certainly doesn't seem right either.