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Writer's pictureCaitlin Hughes

Addressing Myths and Misconceptions about Emotions and Autism

Updated: Sep 30


Introduction


In the mosaic of human experience, emotions are the colours that add depth and richness. Yet when it comes to Autism, misconceptions about emotional capabilities can add unnecessary shades of grey. This blog post aims to clear the smog of misunderstanding and paint a clearer picture of the emotional world of Autistic folks. Autistic folks are diverse, and so too is the range of emotions experienced by them.


Myths and Misconceptions about Emotions and Autism


The literature regarding Autism and emotions largely focuses on Autistic folks' ability to identify others' emotions and empathy. There are limited studies that examine the inner emotional experience of Autistic folks to understand and support their emotional wellbeing. Historically, Autism research and research designs have predominantly relied on observation, often conducted by non-Autistic individuals who may have limited understanding of the lived experiences of Autistic individuals, beyond preconceived notions and stereotypes. Unfortunately, this approach likely perpetuated misconceptions about the emotional experiences of Autistic individuals. This is why I love qualitative research - as it provides more room for the nuances of experience and the joy of stumbling across novel insights. It's so important to capture the diverse experiences of Autistic folks and I look forward to seeing future research in the area (hopefully - otherwise I may just have to conduct it myself!).


Myth #1: Autistic Folks have a Limited Emotional Experience and Expression


Autistic folks are fully capable of experiencing a wide array of emotions—from joy to sorrow, excitement to frustration. However, the expression and processing of these emotions can be different.


Jacques et al. (2022) completed a study which examined the facial expressions of young Autistic and neurotypical children. They compared the prevalence of expressed positive, negative, neutral, and unknown facial emotions in both groups. The findings suggest that young Autistic children do not necessarily express decreased positive or increased negative emotions. Instead, they uniquely express emotions perceived as unknown, which highlights the need to improve our understanding of their full emotional repertoire. This study emphasises the importance of considering Autistic traits when assessing emotional expression, and suggests that a catalogue detailing unknown expressed emotions could contribute to their better understanding. Working towards a more accurate interpretation of facial and other emotions of Autistic folks starting early in development carries the possibility of improving current practices in how parents and professionals interact with Autistic folks.


Palser et al. (2021) conducted a study that indicated that Autistic children report significantly less differentiation in their bodily experiences of emotion compared to non-Autistic children. Specifically, there was more similarity between different emotions for Autistic participants in the head, the heart, and the hands. This suggests Autistic children have a less differentiated bodily experience of emotion compared to their non-Autistic peers. The study revealed that non-Autistic children showed reduced bodily emotion differentiation with age, a developmental pattern not seen in Autistic children. The findings of this study have important implications for understanding and supporting Autistic children in their emotional experiences. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of considering non-linguistic measures of emotion differentiation in Autistic children, as language may not be the only factor involved in emotion differentiation.


Alexithymia


Another factor to consider in the emotional experience and expression of Autistic folks is Alexithymia. Alexithymia is a term used to describe difficulty in identifying and describing one's own emotions (Brett et al., 2024). Individuals with Alexithymia have:


  • Difficulty identifying emotions: Individuals with Alexithymia may struggle to recognise and label their own emotional experiences.

  • Difficulty describing emotions: They may find it challenging to articulate and express their feelings in words.

  • Externally oriented thinking: People with Alexithymia may focus more on external events and have limited introspection about their emotional states.


This is a common experience for Autistic folks, leading to challenges understanding and communicating their own emotions. However, this does not mean Autistic folks do not experience emotions - it simply means they may express them differently or struggle to put words to their feelings. It is also important to note that not all Autistic folks experience Alexithymia. Alexithymia can impact an individual's ability to understand and respond to the emotions of others, which can have implications for social interactions and empathy.


Myth #2: All Autistic Folks have No/Low Empathy


Stereotypes might have you believe that Autistic folks are robotic or lack empathy, but the reality is far more nuanced. These misconceptions often stem from differences in communication, not from an absence of feeling. It's important to recognise that empathy can manifest in different ways and should not be judged solely based on verbal communication. Much like the rest of the population, Autistic folks can experience a range of experiences of empathy. Additionally, having low empathy doesn't make you a "bad" person despite popular belief.


Different Types of Empathy


Firstly, it's important to understand different types of empathy - cognitive empathy and affective empathy (Brett et al., 2024):


Cognitive empathy: This refers to the ability to understand and infer the emotions, thoughts, and perspectives of others. It involves the capacity to recognise and comprehend someone else's emotional state, without necessarily sharing that emotion. Individuals with strong cognitive empathy can accurately interpret and understand the feelings and mental states of others.


Affective empathy: Affective empathy, on the other hand, involves the capacity to share and resonate with the emotions of others. It is the emotional response to the feelings of another person, where an individual experiences a similar emotional state in response to someone else's emotions. Affective empathy allows individuals to connect emotionally with others and experience a shared emotional experience.


Santiesteban et al. (2021) conducted a study that revealed several insights that may explain why Autistic folks can be perceived to lack empathy (particularly by non-Autistic folks). The study revealed that Autistic folks don't lack empathy, but may have difficulties inferring neurotypical mental states. This can impact the ability to respond empathically in social interactions to neurotypical people. Autistic individuals used fewer empathic phrases and showed reduced verbal and physical signs of personal distress compared to neurotypical individuals. Autistic folks showed reduced affective empathy compared to neurotypical individuals, and evidence of reduced, rather than excessive, personal distress. This research suggests that Autistic folks may not exhibit or communicate empathy in the same way as neurotypical individuals, which can be misinterpreted by neurotypical people as a lack of empathic response. It is not that Autistic individuals lack empathy, but rather that their expression of empathy differs.


Another contributing factor may be related to how Autistic folks identify emotions in others. A study conducted by Keating et al. (2023) found that Autistic folks have more precise visual representations of emotions than non-Autistic individuals. However, this precision does not seem to contribute to their ability to recognise emotions from dynamic stimuli. Non-Autistic individuals, on the other hand, rely on both their precision of visual emotion representations and their matching ability to recognise emotions. These findings suggest that there are differences in the psychological mechanisms underlying emotion recognition between Autistic and non-Autistic individuals.


How Alexithymia, Emotional Recognition and Empathy Intersect


There has been research conducted that provides valuable insights into the relationship between Alexithymia, emotion recognition ability, and emotional empathy in Autistic folks.

A study conducted by Ola & Gullon-Scott (2020) indicated that there is a negative correlation between Alexithymia and facial emotion recognition ability in Autistic females. Those with higher levels of Alexithymia had more challenges with facial emotion recognition. Greater issues in identifying one’s own emotions and externally oriented thinking were related to more challenges with facial emotion recognition, while having difficulty describing one’s own feelings was not associated with more challenges with facial emotion recognition. These findings provide valuable insights into the relationship between Alexithymia and challenges with facial emotion recognition in Autistic adult females, highlighting the specific components of Alexithymia that may contribute to difficulties in recognising facial emotions.


A study conducted by Butera et al. (2023) indicated that the severity of Alexithymia was correlated with emotional empathy in both Autistic folks and neurotypical folks. Specifically, Alexithymia scores were positively correlated with personal distress in emotional empathy in both groups, indicating that individuals with higher levels of Alexithymia experienced more personal distress when witnessing others' emotional experiences. However, for Autistic folks, Alexithymia severity was negatively correlated with empathic concern, indicating that individuals with higher levels of Alexithymia experienced less empathic concern for others' emotional experiences. These results suggest that Alexithymia may impact different domains of emotional empathy differently in Autistic folks compared to neurotypical folks.


Brett et al. (2024) proposed a valence-specific empathy imbalance hypothesis of Autism, indicating that individuals with more pronounced Autistic traits have greater difficulty understanding their own emotions (Alexithymia), which hinders their understanding of others' emotions (cognitive empathy). Individuals with greater Autistic traits reported greater negative affective empathy due to co-occurring Alexithymia and emotion dysregulation. Gender differences moderated the empathy profile associated with Autistic traits. The study investigated the impacts of gender and found that social differences uniquely predicted reduced cognitive empathy and reduced positive affective empathy, while restricted and repetitive behaviours uniquely predicted increased negative affective empathy. The study highlights the need for interventions and support programs that address the specific empathy profile of Autistic folks, including the role of Alexithymia, emotion dysregulation, and gender differences. The study also emphasises the importance of addressing both cognitive and affective empathy.


Overall, these studies collectively highlight the complex relationship between Alexithymia, facial emotion recognition ability, and emotional empathy in Autistic folks. The studies also indicate that Alexithymia is likely to play a role in difficulties recognising emotions, both in oneself and others. These difficulties, in turn, contribute to challenges in expressing empathy, rather than being solely attributed to Autistic traits.


Can Autistic Folks increase their Empathy?


In my personal Autistic experience, my affective empathy has always been high, whereas my cognitive empathy is something that I have had to learn about and grow. In my younger years, I was often befuddled by others emotional reactions, but as I have accumulated my own experiences, sought out diverse experiences of others, and trained in psychology and social work, I now have high cognitive empathy. I have found that the most effective and efficient way I understand others' experiences is through my own experience, and that's part of why I incorporate my lived experience as part of my practice. Additionally, my high affective empathy can sometimes get in the way of my cognitive empathy, because I am sitting too much in the emotional parts of my brain, rather than the thinking parts of my brain. I have had to learn strategies to regulate myself, so that I can be present for others and effective in my work. I have found growing my capacity for cognitive empathy and implementing strategies to utilise my affective empathy effectively to be helpful in growing healthy relationships and an excellent tool in my work.


The capacity for cognitive empathy and utilisation of affective empathy can be developed through various strategies (Brett et al., 2024):


Practice active listening: Active listening involves paying attention to what someone says, asking questions, and reflecting back on what you have heard. This can help you better understand the emotions and perspectives of others.


Engage in perspective-taking: Perspective-taking involves putting yourself in someone else's shoes and imagining how they might feel or think. This can help you develop a better understanding of their emotions and perspectives.


Seek out diverse perspectives: Exposure to diverse perspectives can help broaden your understanding of different emotions and experiences.


Increase your emotional awareness: It may be beneficial to seek therapeutic support to identify if Alexithymia is part of your profile. A therapist can help you identify strategies to increase your interoceptive awareness of your emotions, so you are better able to identify and verbalise your emotions. This can also help improve your emotional empathy towards others.


Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness involves being present in the moment and paying attention to your thoughts and emotions. This can help you develop greater self-awareness and emotional regulation, which can improve your ability to understand and respond to the emotions of others.


Practice self-care: Taking care of yourself physically and emotionally can help you regulate your emotions and be more present for others. Engage in activities that bring you joy, relaxation, and a sense of well-being.


It is important to note that this process takes time and effort. However, with practice and persistence, individuals can improve their ability to understand and respond to their emotions and the emotions of others.


Impacts of Misconceptions


Misinterpretations and prejudices can lead to feelings of alienation and misunderstanding for Autistic folks. When society fails to recognise their emotional complexity, it creates barriers to acceptance. This can result in a lack of support and understanding for Autistic folks, causing difficulties in interpersonal relationships and social interactions. Additionally, misconceptions may also lead to inaccurate diagnoses or delays in obtaining appropriate support.


It is therefore essential to address these misconceptions and promote accurate knowledge about Autism to foster empathy and acceptance towards Autistic folks. This includes recognising the diversity of emotional experiences, emotional expressions and empathy profiles, as well as understanding the impact of co-occurring challenges such as Alexithymia on emotional experiences of Autistic folks.


Furthermore, it is crucial to recognise and address the intersectionalities of gender and ethnicity when discussing Autism. Studies have shown that there are differences in how Autism presents itself in individuals of different genders and ethnicities, and these differences may also impact emotional and empathy profiles (Golson et al., 2022). This highlights the need for more diverse and inclusive research in this area to better understand and support all Autistic folks.


Dispelling Misconceptions


To dismantle these myths and misconceptions, we need to amplify the voices of the Autistic community and share stories and insights that reflect the true diversity of their experiences.


Educating the Public


Through education, we can start to dispel harmful myths and open the door to richer connections with Autistic folks. We need increased awareness and education about the diverse ways in which empathy is experienced and expressed in Autistic folks. This can help promote understanding and acceptance of the socio-emotional differences associated with Autism (Santiesteban et al., 2021).


Inclusion of Personal Narratives


Anecdotes and testimonies are powerful tools to challenge misconceptions and show the common humanity in the emotional experiences of Autistic folks. By sharing personal narratives, we can showcase the diversity of emotional expressions and empathy profiles in Autistic folks. It is critical to incorporate Autistic voices and experiences in research, support services, and policy-making. This will ensure a more accurate representation of diversity within Autism and promote empathy and understanding towards Autistic folks. It also empowers the community to advocate for their own needs and challenges harmful misconceptions.


Supporting Emotional Wellbeing in Autistic Folks


Understanding the emotional lives of Autistic individuals is not only crucial, but also serves as a foundation for building supportive relationships and creating environments where they can truly thrive and express themselves authentically. By delving deeper into their unique experiences and perspectives, we can cultivate greater appreciation for their strengths, challenges, and the nuances of their emotional world, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and understanding society.


Emotional Support Strategies


Supporting Autistic folks emotionally means actively listening to their needs and preferences, and offering flexibility in communication methods. It also entails recognising and respecting their unique ways of processing emotions. Moreover, it is essential to understand that Autistic individuals may have different ways of expressing and understanding emotions compared to neurotypical individuals. It is crucial to avoid judgment and instead validate their experiences and offer support in navigating and understanding their own and others emotions.


Professional Collaboration


If mental health professionals, educators, and the Autistic community work together, they can develop strategies that affirm the emotional experiences of Autistic folks and support their wellbeing. Professionals and educators who support and teach Autistic folks require a comprehensive understanding of diverse emotional expressions of Autistic folks. This knowledge is crucial for effectively addressing their emotional needs and providing appropriate support. By understanding the nuances of empathy in Autism, support programs can be designed to address the unique socio-emotional needs of Autistic folks (Santiesteban et al., 2021).


Conclusion


Every step taken to educate, accept, and support is a step toward a society where Autistic folks feel understood and valued in all their emotional hues. Awareness is the brush with which we can paint this new picture, and it is up to us all to contribute to this broader mosaic of understanding. By demystifying the emotional experiences of Autistic folks, we contribute to a more inclusive world that appreciates and nurtures the neurodiversity that enriches our collective human experience.


References


Brett, J. D., Becerra, R., Whitehouse, A., Preece, D. A., & Maybery, M. T. (2024). The valence-specific empathy imbalance hypothesis of autism: The role of autistic traits, alexithymia, emotion dysregulation, and gender differences. Personality and Individual Differences, 218, 112493-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2023.112493


Butera, C. D., Harrison, L., Kilroy, E., Jayashankar, A., Shipkova, M., Pruyser, A., & Aziz-Zadeh, L. (2023). Relationships between alexithymia, interoception, and emotional empathy in autism spectrum disorder. Autism : The International Journal of Research and Practice, 27(3), 690–703. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221111310


Golson, M. E., Haverkamp, C. R., McClain, M. B., Schwartz, S. E., Ha, J., Harris, B., & Benallie, K. J. (2022). Influences of student race/ethnicity and gender on autism special education classification considerations. Autism : The International Journal of Research and Practice, 26(6), 1423–1435. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613211050440


Jacques, C., Courchesne, V., Mineau, S., Dawson, M., & Mottron, L. (2022). Positive, negative, neutral—or unknown? The perceived valence of emotions expressed by young autistic children in a novel context suited to autism. Autism : The International Journal of Research and Practice, 26(7), 1833–1848. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613211068221


Keating, C. T., Ichijo, E., & Cook, J. L. (2023). Autistic adults exhibit highly precise representations of others’ emotions but a reduced influence of emotion representations on emotion recognition accuracy. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 11875–11875. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39070-0


Ola, L., & Gullon-Scott, F. (2020). Facial emotion recognition in autistic adult females correlates with alexithymia, not autism. Autism : The International Journal of Research and Practice, 24(8), 2021–2034. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361320932727


Palser, E. R., Galvez-Pol, A., Palmer, C. E., Hannah, R., Fotopoulou, A., Pellicano, E., & Kilner, J. M. (2021). Reduced differentiation of emotion-associated bodily sensations in autism. Autism : The International Journal of Research and Practice, 25(5), 1321–1334. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361320987950


Santiesteban, I., Gibbard, C., Drucks, H., Clayton, N., Banissy, M. J., & Bird, G. (2021). Individuals with Autism Share Others’ Emotions: Evidence from the Continuous Affective Rating and Empathic Responses (CARER) Task. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51(2), 391–404. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04535-y

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