5 ms·

It's not odd if you interpret the social issues in autism spectrum as partially a difficulty in learning unspoken social rituals taught from a young age. In thi

It's not odd if you interpret the social issues in autism spectrum as partially a difficulty in learning unspoken social rituals taught from a young age. In this case, a human that is well-socialized having difficulty expressing empathy for a human with social difficulties makes total sense- the well-socialized human has not been taught how to be empathetic to another human that does not follow social rituals. It is my understanding that part of autism advocacy is to establish new social rituals among the neurotypical populace that allows the neurotypical human to learn empathy and acceptance for autistic behavior in the way a neurotypical human generally learns- social cues and hierarchy and peer enforcement.

__s 7y ago
This is a good way of looking at it People on the spectrum aren't less empathic, they're lacking rituals which help hide one's lack of empathy
- optimuspaul 7y ago
  My son is on the spectrum and I've observed that he doesn't have less empathy but he in fact has an overabundance of empathy to the point that it causes him to withdraw and he has learned to ignore his empathy because society is not accepting of how he engages with them. His empathy is not the problem, it is his ability to communicate with others that do not share his sensibilities.
- munificent 7y ago
  Oh, dear, what a strange, cynical take. If you define "empathy" as "care very much about the feelings of others", then, yes, my experience is that people on the spectrum have no shortage of empathy. My daughter is a very warm-hearted person who intensely wants the people around her to feel good. But if you define it as "able to easily and correctly read the feelings of others", then, no, it really is a challenge for people on the spectrum. It's not that they don't want to hear the music, it's just that their radio doesn't tune into it very well.
  - Fnoord 7y ago
    (Disclosure: I have ASD.) Just a FYI, I agree with your post and your parent, and I don't find them at odds; your post is complementary, and a nice addendum. Both of you describe an symptom of autism. It is important different symptoms of autism get described, and that the general public gets to understand these instead of tunneling on a few symptoms. No autistic person has the very same symptoms as severe in the very same way as the other.
dv_dt 7y ago
In some instances, how does one distinguish between social rituals vs managers taking advantage of employees - e.g. in a toxic office culture where every employee overworks vs it's a good office that really has an emergency vs maybe one manager who "nudges" emplyees to overwork to look good.
- SolaceQuantum 7y ago
  Unfortunately there are a near infinite number of factors involved with the learning of social rituals and each human only has developed the skill of social ritual compliance to specific extends. There is, as far as I am aware, no universally accurate evaluation algorithm I can provide you in this case.

__s 7y ago

This is a good way of looking at it People on the spectrum aren't less empathic, they're lacking rituals which help hide one's lack of empathy

optimuspaul 7y ago
My son is on the spectrum and I've observed that he doesn't have less empathy but he in fact has an overabundance of empathy to the point that it causes him to withdraw and he has learned to ignore his empathy because society is not accepting of how he engages with them. His empathy is not the problem, it is his ability to communicate with others that do not share his sensibilities.
munificent 7y ago
Oh, dear, what a strange, cynical take. If you define "empathy" as "care very much about the feelings of others", then, yes, my experience is that people on the spectrum have no shortage of empathy. My daughter is a very warm-hearted person who intensely wants the people around her to feel good. But if you define it as "able to easily and correctly read the feelings of others", then, no, it really is a challenge for people on the spectrum. It's not that they don't want to hear the music, it's just that their radio doesn't tune into it very well.
- Fnoord 7y ago
  (Disclosure: I have ASD.) Just a FYI, I agree with your post and your parent, and I don't find them at odds; your post is complementary, and a nice addendum. Both of you describe an symptom of autism. It is important different symptoms of autism get described, and that the general public gets to understand these instead of tunneling on a few symptoms. No autistic person has the very same symptoms as severe in the very same way as the other.

dv_dt 7y ago

In some instances, how does one distinguish between social rituals vs managers taking advantage of employees - e.g. in a toxic office culture where every employee overworks vs it's a good office that really has an emergency vs maybe one manager who "nudges" emplyees to overwork to look good.

SolaceQuantum 7y ago
Unfortunately there are a near infinite number of factors involved with the learning of social rituals and each human only has developed the skill of social ritual compliance to specific extends. There is, as far as I am aware, no universally accurate evaluation algorithm I can provide you in this case.