On the ontological status of autism: the ‘double empathy problem’

Added on 09/06/2024

Type de contenu

Journal article of the type Theoretical development ( ; english)

On the ontological status of autism: the ‘double empathy problem’ published in the journal "Disability & society" n°27, vol.6, 5 pages , doi: 10.1080/09687599.2012.710008

*The author has publicly identified as autistic. [Learn more about this mention]

- 17% of authors cited in the bibliography of this resource have publicly identified as autistic (2 out of 12 authors).
- 33% of references cited in this resource contain at least one author who has publicly identified as autistic (4 out of 12 references).

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Summary/Presentation

In recent decades there has been much debate over the ontological status of autism and other neurological ‘disorders’, diagnosed by behavioural indicators, and theorised primarily within the field of cognitive neuroscience and psychological paradigms. Such cognitive-behavioural discourses abstain from acknowledging the universal issue of relationality and interaction in the formation of a contested and constantly reconstructed social reality, produced through the agency of its ‘actors’. The nature of these contested interactions will be explored in this current issues piece through the use of the term the ‘double empathy problem’, and how such a rendition produces a critique of autism being defined as a deficit in ‘theory of mind’, re-framing such issues as a question of reciprocity and mutuality. In keeping with other autistic self-advocates, this piece will refer to ‘autistic people’, and ‘those who identify as on the autism spectrum’, rather than ‘people with autism’.

For your information:

(1) References in blue are resources listed on our site.

(2) Authors listed in this bibliography whose names are in color have published other resources referenced on the site. Clicking on the name allows you to see the list of resources they have published and shared on the site.

(3) Authors whose names are followed by an asterisk have publicly disclosed being autistic.


  • H. Becker (1963). "Outsiders." New York: The Free Press.

  • H. Garfinkel (1967). "Studies in ethnomethodology." Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

  • I. Hacking (2009). "Autistic autobiography." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society: Biological Sciences, 364(1522), doi:10.1098/rstb.2008.0329

  • R. Mallet (2011). "Buying new normals?: When impairment categories become commodities." Paper presented at the Theorising Normalcy and the Mundane 2nd International Conference, September 14–15, in Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.

  • D. Milton* (2011a). "'Who am I meant to be': In search of a psychological model of autism from the viewpoint of an 'insider'." Paper presented at the Critical Autism Seminar, January 18, in Sheffield Hallam University, UK.

  • D. Milton* (2011b). "'Filling in the gaps', a micro-sociological analysis of autism." Paper presented at the Theorising Normalcy and the Mundane 2nd International Conference, September 14–15, in Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.

  • D. Milton*, Lm. (2012). "'They judge me on the bit they can see...': How normative practices have led to the psycho-emotional disablement of autistic people." Critical Disability Discourse, in review.

  • Plato (1973). "Phaedrus and Letters VII and VIII." Trans. W. Hamilton. London: Penguin.

  • D. Reeve (2011). "Ableism within disability studies: The myth of the reliable and contained body." Paper presented at the Theorising Normalcy and the Mundane 2nd International Conference, September 14–15, in Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.

  • E. Said (1978). "Orientalism." London: Vintage Press.

  • H. Tajfel, J. Turner (1979). "An integrative theory of intergroup conflict." In Critical readings in social psychology, ed. D. Langbridge, S. Taylor, 136–147. Milton Keynes: Open University.

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