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Jamesy
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08 Aug 2011, 2:41 pm

Do people wiht autism and aspergers show a lot less emotion/expressions in there faces when they speak compared too an NT????



Jory
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08 Aug 2011, 2:44 pm

In general, yes, but there are exceptions. It unfortunately leads a lot of people to think we're emotionless inside just because nothing shows on the outside.



MakaylaTheAspie
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08 Aug 2011, 2:44 pm

It's true for me, if that answers your question. I'm sure that true for a lot of people on here.


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SammichEater
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08 Aug 2011, 2:49 pm

It's not true. We generally tend to either show too much emotion or not enough. More often than not I'm in the not enough category.


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emtyeye
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08 Aug 2011, 2:54 pm

From what I know, it can go either way. I think I often have a lot of facial expressions but they aren't "normal" and confuse others. I know another high funcioning autistic and she also has strange expressions. Kind of exaggerated compared to typicals. Maybe women have this feature more and men are more prone to expressionless faces. But I don't have hard data, only personal observation.



animalcrackers
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08 Aug 2011, 2:56 pm

I don't really know how true it is for me....I think I usually sound the same way all the time, but I don't usually speak in monotone.

Unless I'm totally consumed by an emotion (and sometimes even then), I have trouble making my tone of voice match whatever I'm saying....I think I have to have heard someone else say something with the "appropriate" tone of voice before I can do the same.



Ilka
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08 Aug 2011, 3:05 pm

Yes, it is true, and well kown, also. It extends to the tone of voice. But it is usually when talking, because there is no problem to express strong emotions like hapiness or anger. This also can be changed with behavior modification therapy.



Tuttle
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08 Aug 2011, 3:16 pm

It's a standard trait but its not true for everyone on the spectrum. I don't know whether its true for me. I know its not for my boyfriend. He has one of the most expressive faces of people I know.



TB
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08 Aug 2011, 3:20 pm

usually not enough, but when i am in a good mood and others are casual i have a hard time controlling my expression and i just smile really intense. This happens when i am thinking nice thoughts too, my face automatically follows with a grin or smile and people never know the reason. Same goes for things that repel/disgust me, im not able to keep a straight face very well or fake something i do not feel.



anneurysm
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08 Aug 2011, 4:22 pm

Not all aspies have this, and it's often not a question of whether it's less but whether it suits the situation. Out of ones I have met and observed, some have awkward/shy/avoidant gazes, others have exaggerated facial expressions, and others seem to have no trouble in this area.


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Callista
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08 Aug 2011, 4:37 pm

Some of us overexpress emotion, or express the wrong ones, or have bad timing.


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Killman
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10 Aug 2011, 7:09 am

I just express my emotions awkwardly. I often do excited ranting on subjects of interest. I also usually show no eye contact and use a lot of hand motions.



Godless_lawyer
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10 Aug 2011, 7:17 am

I've noticed lately that when I think I'm smiling, I'm actually not.

That is to say, to me it feels like I'm smiling quite broadly - but to someone looking at me I appear, at best, to be sneering. Usually my expression just appears neutral even when I think I must look happy.

That's not to say I can't smile, or don't smile.

I also don't actually know if I've got any form of autism or just have a few autistic traits/quirks.



Mummy_of_Peanut
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10 Aug 2011, 7:19 am

If I'm at ease with a person, I think my facial expression is a good indicator of my emotional state, but slightly exaggerated (I think my emotions are exaggerated to compared to most too). But, if I'm extremely irritated by someone's comments, I'll more than likely keep my emotions hidden and present a blank expression. That is, until it gets to a head and then I have an outburst and can look really fierce. With that, I'm usually on the verge of crying too. This has only happened a few times in my lifetime, twice last year, with the in-laws, after 20 years of blank face and saying very little. I haven't spoken to them since.



exch
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10 Aug 2011, 9:11 am

Godless_lawyer wrote:
I've noticed lately that when I think I'm smiling, I'm actually not.

That is to say, to me it feels like I'm smiling quite broadly - but to someone looking at me I appear, at best, to be sneering. Usually my expression just appears neutral even when I think I must look happy.

That's not to say I can't smile, or don't smile.


This goes for me as well. People often tell me I need to smile more or stop looking so depressed. It always comes as a surprise, because I feel I am smiling.


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10 Aug 2011, 10:14 am

Everyone is different.

I know some people who are HFA and can't hide their emotions. If they are angry you can see it instantly, if they are happy they can't hide it. They have very expressive faces.

I know other people who don't show much emotion on their face. This tends to be in sitations though where they don't know how they are meant to react, especially with people they don't know so well. Other times they can be expressive, especially with people whom they feel comfortable around.

I have no idea what I look like to other people.