How can they say we lack empathy when I made people tear up talking to them.

[Tony Ramirez]

Really. I been telling people that I been thankful for their friendship especially my female friends. I also been talking to my female yoga teachers thanking them. They and others from church have also been thanking me for being an inspiration and changing their life and tearing up in the process.

So I don't get how autistic people can lack empathy.

 

[Misery]

Really frustrating, aint it? That some people make that assumption.

I cant understand it either. It's always baffled me.

 

[Rodafina]

Seems like just a common old fashioned misconception. I think the assumption will change over time as more autistic people are able to talk about their experiences and be heard.

ASD and empathy

Does anyone else with ASD feel they have high empathy? I feel like I do. The only issue is I don't express my thoughts or feelings well and I could come across to others as cold. So I think people around me don't know I have so much empathy.

www.autismforums.com

ASD - Empathy

Hi, Why is that some people with ASD have low Empathy while other people with ASD have high Empathy ?. Could it mean something? may you please explain?...

www.autismforums.com

Lack of Empathy: Trait of Autism?

So, I've been told I tend to lack empathy for others, which yes, I find to be an accurate assessment. There are times where I cannot find myself to give a damn about others or hurting their feelings and whatnot. There have been times where I have done seriously harmful things such as break...

www.autismforums.com

Empathy

It seems to me that the human population at large is void of empathy. I even feel that most people don’t even understand the definition, because they can’t imagine what the feeling of empathy would be. While they can recite the definition, I don’t believe they can actually imagine it. Actually...

www.autismforums.com

Empathy and Autism

I was told that autistic people like myself have no capacity for empathy. I wonder what other autistics think? Is this true about us? If so, why? And what are examples?

www.autismforums.com

 

[Misty Avich]

So I don't get how autistic people can lack empathy.

We don't. I'm trying to drum this into everyone.

 

[Hypnalis]

Empathy is when you tear up.

Also, respect for having a positive and inspirational effect on other people!

 

[marc_101]

The lack of empathy and ASD is a zombie idea. It never dies.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Being quiet and direct in conversation is misconstrued as lack of empathy.

 

[Chailatte_]

Empathy and sensitivity are two different things. I am very sensitive, but I only have cognitive empathy.

For example, when I see someone crying, I immediately analyze the problem and provide them with rational and logical solutions, skipping the part where I simply listen, which is often what people really want. Many just want someone to listen without necessarily providing solutions (I struggle to understand this). I find it very hard to deal with emotional people because I find them unpredictable and difficult to manage (and they find my approach cold/robotic), even though I have the best intentions and genuinely want to help them.

Currently, I am interested in working on my affective empathy because my partner is going through a tough time (his father had a stroke), and I want to be able to provide good support.

 

[Tony Ramirez]

I have actually seen NT's with little to no empathy treated better socially just because they are NT.

 

[Misty Avich]

I'm not very good at providing solutions or advice, I prefer to just listen and sympathise with them. I used to think that was a definition of lacking empathy but apparently it isn't. But it's really because I'm not very knowledgeable with stuff really so I wouldn't know which advice to give. But I think giving advice is still a form of empathy too because it means you care. Criticism isn't very empathetic, but how many of us have been criticised by NTs for our sensory issues, special interests and not wanting to socialise? And NTs don't only criticise autistics - they can criticise each other too if they don't see eye to eye on something or have different perspectives. It's all too common.

And we can get criticised for things about ourselves that aren't autism-related, such as a phobia of heights or spiders, by people (NT or not) who don't possess those phobias. Not all people would criticise of course, but a lot do, enough to put it down to the human condition. But when an autistic doesn't understand something, we just get told we "lack empathy" without hesitation. This is where I have a problem with the overuse of the word empathy when talking with people who know I have ASD, like on forums.

 

[Shevek]

Really. I been telling people that I been thankful for their friendship especially my female friends. I also been talking to my female yoga teachers thanking them. They and others from church have also been thanking me for being an inspiration and changing their life and tearing up in the process.

So I don't get how autistic people can lack empathy.

In that example, it is the others with the empathy. Do they make you tear up?

 

[Tony Ramirez]

In that example, it is the others with the empathy. Do they make you tear up?

Yes they have sometimes.