Learning about Autistic experiences can feel like entering a whole new world of terminology and ideas.
It takes time to get to grips with it all, and learning is an ongoing process as new community knowledge and research circulates.
But even familiarising yourself with some of the more common terms can pay off hugely. These concepts may offer the frameworks needed to better understand our Autistic selves, family members, or those we’re working with.
Below are just three of the ideas I consider to be an essential (but by no means anywhere near exhaustive) part of learning about what it means to be Autistic.
THE DOUBLE EMPATHY PROBLEM
Theorised by Damian Milton
It used to be believed that Autistic people lacked theory of mind - meaning we didn’t understand that other people have different mental states, thoughts and emotions to our own.
In mental health training I remember being taught that it was possible to tell the difference between an Autistic child and a traumatised one because the Autistic child wouldn’t be able to demonstrate theory of mind, while a traumatised child would!
In reality, Autistic people may be more or less empathic, just as non-Autistic (allistic) people are more or less empathic.
Autistic researcher Damian Milton outlined the double empathy problem. Autistic people have been stigmatised as lacking empathy and having communication deficiencies based on neuronormative standards. Autistic and allistic ways of empathising and communicating are different, but research has shown them to be equally valid and effective within same-neurotype groups. Misunderstandings still happen amongst Autistics and amongst allistics, but these misunderstandings increase significantly when communication is across neurotypes.
Reframing Autism has published a simple summary of Damian’s work for non-academics which explains how communication and empathy are a two-way street.
The double empathy problem doesn’t just apply to Autistics and allistics, but can be used to help frame difficulties in understanding and communication between any two groups that have different ways of experiencing or processing the world. This can include groups of Autistic people with other identities, such as those who are white and those who are racialised.
Shaw et al. expanded on this idea with the triple empathy problem, highlighting the difficulties Autistic people face through environmental contexts - in this case when communicating with neurotypical medical professionals.
AUTISTIC MASKING
Autistic masking is about identity management and projecting acceptability to those around us. If you’re Autistic then masking is likely to be taking up a huge part of your energy and processing power - whether conscious or otherwise.
There’s a misconception that only Autistic people with lower support needs mask, which seems to stem from the myth that masking is just about acting neurotypical. Acting neurotypical is one small part of it, but most masking is unconscious and automatic. It starts when we’re babies and automatically adjust to how caregivers respond to us and meet our needs - or how they don’t.
Autistics with higher support needs mask too in a wide variety of ways, many of which are pushed in Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA). Masking may include things such as suppressing stims or overt signs of distress. It can also include expressing Autistic traits more obviously, if doing so results in more predictable responses from those around us.
This article gives an in-depth grounding in what Autistic masking is all about:
MONOTROPISM
Theorised by Dinah Murray, Wenn Lawson and Mike Lesser
Monotropism was originally conceived as a neuroaffirming theory of autism. Monotropic people, which includes Autistics and ADHDers, focus more of their attention on fewer things at a time compared people who are polytropic and can more easily switch their focus. Research indicates that people who are both Autistic and ADHD tend to be the most monotropic of all.
If you’re new to the idea of monotropism, this short video is a great introduction:
Being monotropic has massive implications for daily living. Much of Western society is set up for polytropic attentional styles. Understanding monotropism can provide you with the framework to start making changes in your life where you have agency to do so.
If you’re in an environment where you’re constantly expected to switch from thing to thing (like in mainstream schooling or some work environments) then you may find this draining at best, or it may be outright impossible. Monotropic people tend to do better in spaces where we can focus on one thing for a longer period of time. You can take a questionnaire to find out how monotropic you are as this varies significantly, even amongst Autistics and ADHDers.
For some, focus can be so strong that awareness of time is lost, and reminders to eat, drink or sleep may be necessary. Being interrupted can be extremely stressful.
Finding ways to allow yourself time to focus on your interests without interruption may be highly important for your wellbeing as a monotropic person.
You can find out more at monotropism.org - and look out for my upcoming article covering essential resources for learning about monotropism.
Further reading
Work with me
What I offer:
Online counselling for adults (18+). Sessions usually take place weekly, fortnightly, or on an ad hoc basis.
Rewind trauma therapy for PTSD symptoms can be carried out as part of counselling work or as a stand-alone therapy.
One-to-one neurodiversity discussion for anyone wanting to understand more, and ad hoc clinical consultation and supervision around neurodiversity for counsellors, therapists, mental health practitioners, education professionals and others.
I offer a free, 15-minute online video call for anyone who is interested in supervision, counselling or rewind trauma therapy with me and would like to find out more.
Please get in touch via contact@jadefarrington.com