Revisiting the Double Empathy Problem: Communicative Mismatch Between Autistic People and Neurotypicals

Previously, communication difficulties between autistic people and their non-autistic peers were attributed to the Theory of Mind deficit; an alternative model was proposed in the recent decade, arguing for a bidirectional breakdown in communication across neurotypes. By reviewing selected articles, empirical evidence favored the double empathy problem (DEP), suggesting both autistic and non-autistic people feel higher enjoyment when interacting with people of the same neurotypes. This review analyzed that autistic individuals rely less on facial expressions, directness of communication as well as better detail retention in written materials. However, researchers might want to incorporate autistic voices and explore the underlying mechanism of DEP to form a robust view. It is also important to create a neurodiverse world that can be beneficial for both autistic and non-autistic individuals.