double empathy problem

Coined by autism researcher Damian E. M. Milton in 2012 in a journal article.[1]

double empathy problem (uncountable)

1. (psychology) The phenomenon of autistic and nonautistic people mutually failing to understand each other due to cognitive differences in expressing and processing emotion.
   • 2018, Michael James, Forest School and Autism: A Practical Guide‎, page 37:

     Autistic people's difficulties with communication combined with the 'double empathy problem' can lead to assumptions being made by staff about the people they are teaching or supporting.

   • 2020, Karen Guldberg, Developing Excellence in Autism Practice: Making a Difference in Education, unnumbered page:

     Rather, such difficulties are reciprocal, so a 'double empathy' problem exists.

   • 2021, Felicity Sedgewick, Laura Hull, Helen Ellis, Autism and Masking: How and Why People Do It, and the Impact It Can Have‎, page 163:

     In contrast to the old (and disproven) idea of autistic people lacking empathy, the double empathy problem suggests that non-autistic people often lack empathy towards autistic people, and this might be the cause of many difficulties experienced by autistic people.