Double Empathy Problem Theory

The double empathy problem theory describes how people with different experiences have difficulty understanding and empathizing with each other. Developed in 2012 by British autism researcher/social psychologist Damian Milton, it suggests a mutual mismatch between two people can lead to faulty communication. An autistic person might struggle to read non-verbal cues, while non-autistic people might make incorrect assumptions. The double empathy problem occurs when there are differences in socio-economic status, cultural lifestyles, neurotypes, communication style, and social-cognitive characteristics. It also challenges long-held theories that autistic people lack empathy and their social shortcomings are the reason interactions fail. Also see Theory of Mind