EP36: Do Autistic People Lack Empathy?

The Other Autism

Many think that autistic people lack empathy, but do they?
Join me as I explore empathy in the context of autism research and the origins of the autistic empathy deficit idea. In this episode, I cover the double empathy problem with help from a friend. How does the double empathy problem explain misunderstandings and communication breakdowns between autistic individuals and neurotypicals?
I also talk about how I personally think of empathy (and how my notions of empathy are surprisingly close to the very first usage of the word!).
Watch this episode on YouTube.
If you'd like to know more about topics discussed in this episode, check out:
"A Reflective Guide on the Meaning of Empathy in Autism Research" by Caroline Bollen
"Autism and Empathy: What Are the Real Links?" By Sue Fletcher-Watson and Geoffrey Bird
"Autism in an Age of Empathy: A Cautionary Critique" by Patrick McDonagh (chapter in Worlds of Autism edited by Joyce Davidson and Michael Orsini)
"On the Ontological Status of Autism: The 'Double Empathy Problem'" by Damian Milton
"The 'Double Empathy Problem': Ten Years On" by Damian Milton et al.
"Object Personification in Autism: This Paper Will Be Very Sad if You Don't Read it" by Rebekah White and Anna Remington
"A Dual Route Model of Empathy: A Neurobiological Perspective" by Chi-Lin Yu and Tai-Li Chou

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Chapters

1. EP36: Do Autistic People Lack Empathy? (00:00:00)

2. [Ad] Tune in to the Patient Advocacy Voices Podcast today (00:25:13)

3. (Cont.) Do Autistic People Lack Empathy? (00:26:01)