What Prevelant is the idea that Autistic people lack Empathy

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This is something I am curious about and have been for awhile. I don't know how prevelant the idea is but I know it widspread enough that the leading Autism researcher in the UK, Simon Baron Cohen subscribes to the idea.

Simon Baron Cohen is pretty much is the modern source for the idea the Autistics lack cognitive empathy.

I question whether low empathy, as shown on the test I posted on another thread, necessarily means being unable to show concern for others. Several of the questions are about social cues but is that really proof of a lack of empathy,
or simply just what it is;difficulty with social cues?

I may struggle to put myself in someone else's shoes but I sure as hell feel upset if I see a video of a starving refugee.
I can't put myself in the shoes of someone who's had cancer but that hasn't stopped me from donating to cancer charities.

Cohen also subscribes to the "extreme male brain" theory and yet an increasing number of females are being shown to be on the spectrum.

A silly example,but one nonetheless. I would find it hard to understand what it feels like to be thrilled going on a rollercoaster.
I would find it hard to understand what it feels like to hate blacks,gays or other minorities.

Those are two examples.

I can understand where that belief comes from, if it's based on people with behaviours like mine.

If someone's upset, I have no clue what to do. I stand around awkwardly and do nothing. That might look like I don't care, but it's really just because I don't know how to respond.

If someone's discussing a problem with me, I perhaps do come across as quite cold. I probably don't show much empathy. However, that's because I'm practical and a solution-finder. I believe that if you're not happy with something, you should change it. Don't like your job? Find a new one, or a way to change yours. Upset about your money situation? Work hard to improve it. If someone talks about a problem, I'll help them to find an answer. I'll talk them through pros and cons, rather than sitting there saying 'aww' and making sympathetic noises that don't get things done. Again, it isn't that I don't care or that I don't understand how this stuff feels, it's that showing outward signs of empathy alone does not get things done.

Low empathy is pretty core to an ASD diagnosis...


Struggling to read emotions, body language, facial expressions etc is an indicator of poor empathy.

Diagnostic Criteria

A. Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, as manifested by the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive, see text):

1. Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, ranging, for example, from abnormal social approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions.

2. Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, ranging, for example, from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to abnormalities in eye contact and body language or deficits in understanding and use of gestures; to a total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communication.

3. Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships, ranging, for example, from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts; to difficulties in sharing imaginative play or in making friends; to absence of interest in peers.


All related to empathy.

This may sound odd, but I've met other aspies with the same issue.

I have a completely lack of COGNITIVE empathy, which is knowing how a person feels, but I have compassionate and emotional empathy (especially emotional).

However, I tend to have empathy in situations when many NTs wouldn't, but I don't empathy in situations where NTs do. For example, most NTs wouldn't have empathy for a child having a tantrum because the swimming pool is closed, but I would have empathy for the child. However, An NT may show empathy for the parent of the child, while I probably would struggle with this.

Understand what I mean?

PS: On Simon Baron-Cohen's test, I got an average score on empathy, but a very low score on systematizing.

"Empathy" is not to be confused with "sympathy".

Austistics supposedly cant figure out what others are thinking/feeling. That is "lacking empathy". But they might still feel sympathy for you (once they figured it out).

Just asking but ASPartOfMe did you take the test?