Are people with autism really less empathetic?
image: Pexels
There is a widespread belief that people with autism are less empathetic. In other words, that they are less able to put themselves in someone else's shoes. But is that actually true? Autism researcher Dr Lisa Krijnen is investigating this question.
Where does this idea come from?
Both research and popular opinion have long portrayed people with autism as being less empathetic. But why is this the case?
Krijnen explains: ‘Partly, it may stem from the way empathy has been measured in previous studies. It is often assessed using questionnaires in which people are asked to evaluate for themselves how well they understand or relate to what someone else is thinking or feeling. Autistic people regularly report finding these kinds of questions difficult to answer.'
How these questionnaires work
What makes these questionnaires so challenging? ‘They typically contain a variety of questions about empathy,’ says Krijnen.
‘For example, you might be asked whether you can predict how someone else is feeling. But is that really possible? Can anyone look into a crystal ball and know exactly how another person feels? And what context should you imagine when answering? Is it someone you know well or a complete stranger? Do you know what is happening in their life, or not?’
According to Krijnen, these are the kinds of thought processes autistic people often describe when completing such questionnaires.
‘It raises an important question about how this affects their responses. There is a good chance someone will answer that they cannot really predict how another person feels. As a result, the questionnaire may categorise them as less empathetic. But does that genuinely tell us anything about whether a person is empathetic?’
The experiences of people with autism
In her research, Krijnen speaks directly with autistic individuals and asks them how they interpret the statements used in these questionnaires. These conversations reveal how people arrive at their answers, rather than simply showing the answers themselves.
According to Krijnen, the findings do not suggest that autistic people are necessarily less empathetic.
‘Some participants describe feeling deep compassion for others, so intensely that it can become overwhelming. People also explain that they sometimes need time to process another person’s experiences and consider how best to respond. To an outsider, it may appear as though they do not care because they do not immediately put an arm around someone. A questionnaire might ask whether other people consider you insensitive, and in that case the answer can easily lean towards 'yes'.’
What if empathy isn’t visible?
Putting an arm around someone is often seen as a typical indicator of empathy. But is behaviour really what determines whether a person is empathetic?
‘In principle, empathy should not be defined by behaviour alone,’ says the autism researcher. ‘However, behaviour is what is visible to other people. That helps explain how the perception can arise that autistic people are less empathetic. This is precisely why it is important for researchers to critically examine the ways empathy is measured and to challenge existing assumptions.
Empathy explained
This article is about empathy. But what do we actually mean when we talk about it?
Krijnen: 'Empathy is not always clearly defined. Does it mean understanding what other people think, do and feel? Or is it mainly about sharing in other people's emotions? Or does it refer to how you respond, for example when someone sitting next to you starts to cry?'
'The first two aspects are generally regarded as forms of empathy: understanding another person's thoughts and feelings is known as cognitive empathy, while sharing their emotions is referred to as affective empathy. How someone responds, in other words their social skills and behaviour, is sometimes included as part of empathy and sometimes considered a separate concept.'
How should we measure empathy?
Krijnen also asked participants how they believed empathy should be assessed in order to measure it in a reliable and inclusive way.
‘Many of them felt that the focus should not be on behaviour but on what a person experiences internally. That is the essence of empathy: sharing in and understanding someone else’s feelings and thoughts. When we judge empathy based solely on behaviour, we risk making a great deal of assumptions. Often, we assess empathy according to behaviours that align with what society considers 'normal' or 'appropriate'.’
A neurotypical view of empathy
But what exactly counts as ‘normal’ or ‘appropriate’? These standards are often shaped by the expectations of the average neurotypical person.
‘For example, when someone tells you a personal story, you are generally expected to maintain eye contact to show that you are listening. If you frequently look away, there is a common assumption that you are not paying attention, which may lead others to believe you are less engaged or less empathetic.'
'But what if you can focus better on what is being said when you are not looking directly at the speaker? This is something autistic people regularly describe. In that situation, looking away can actually be a sign of engagement. It all depends on the perspective from which someone’s behaviour is viewed.’
Ongoing Research
Krijnen and her colleagues are continuing their research. Their ultimate goal?
‘Together with autistic people, we are working towards the development of a questionnaire that measures empathy without relying on a neurotypical perspective. This will help us gain a better understanding of empathy and prevent misunderstandings about empathy and autism.’
Preferences regarding the terms ‘person with autism’ (person-first language, PFL) and ‘autistic person’ (identity-first language, IFL) vary. See, for example, Buijsman et al. (2023). For that reason, both forms of wording have been used throughout this article.