Empathy In People “Asperger’s “

The stigma of a lack of empathy in people with Asperger’s syndrome is still deeply rooted in our society. However, neuroscience tells us very clearly that children, adolescents, and adults with Asperger’s syndrome feel, see, appreciate and care about other people’s pain. However, they do not know how to react, what responses or what behaviors to adopt in these situations.

It’s entirely possible that movies and TV shows have helped to create a generally unrealistic picture of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). To begin with, the most important fact to consider is that, as the word itself suggests, we are dealing with a condition that relates to a spectrum.

So there will be people with much more rigid behaviors. Some will have great difficulties, even in terms of speech and communication. Others, on the other hand, will demonstrate good functioning and memory capacities. These people will probably have great potential in certain areas of knowledge. This could be, for example, the field of science or mathematics.

Therefore, not all children with ASD are the same. Although Asperger’s syndrome is the most common in this spectrum, generalization always leads to error. This developmental disorder requires from us more understanding and closeness. It is therefore necessary to understand a little more how this inner world linked to empathy works.

Empathy in people with Asperger’s syndrome: concepts and characteristics

How is empathy manifested in people with Asperger’s syndrome?
Is it absent in these people or is it present in the same way as in people with neurotypes (usually people who develop ASD)? The answer is not as simple as a resounding “yes” or a definitive “no”. The subject is not simple because empathy, in itself, is not as simple a dimension as one might think.

Now let’s take a look at some important information.

Two types of empathy

Christopher Gillberg is a professor at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. He is known to have developed the most common criteria for diagnosing Asperger’s syndrome. This doctor often defines this developmental disorder as the “disease of empathy”.

Focusing only on this idea feeds stigma in the community. In reality, what needs to be clarified is that empathy in people with Asperger’s syndrome works differently.

• Empathy comes in two ways: the first is cognitive. Through it, we have the ability to see the world from a third party perspective. We understand what is happening to him because we can “put ourselves in the shoes of the person in front of us.
• On the other hand, there is emotional empathy: in this case, we limit ourselves to feeling what the other person is feeling. We are therefore experiencing an emotional contagion. Indeed, we see, we feel and we connect, but we do not understand the situation. And if we understand it, it is thanks to the coalition with the other type of empathy, that which is cognitive

• This is what a person with Asperger’s Disorder experiences: they can identify the suffering and joy of the other, and even share it. However, she does not know how to react, what to do or how to act. His cognitive empathy is not always present

Neuroscience and Asperger’s Syndrome

The Brain Research Center at National Yang-Ming University in Taipei, Taiwan conducted an interesting study in 2014. The aim of the study was to determine, using MRI scans, how the brains of people with the syndrome of Asperger works.

• So, one thing that one could see is that empathy in people with Asperger’s syndrome and the mechanisms that are responsible for it, are present. The processes related to identifying the pain of others are given. They are real, but not in the same way as in neurotypical people

• These differences are partly explained in an article published in the journal Molecular Autism . Professor Baron-Cohen of the Autism Research Center at Cambridge University conducted a study to find the presence of a gene. The GABRB3 gene could be at the origin of these alterations in empathy

This gene also regulates the function of a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In this way, the alteration of its functionality can lead to more rigid behaviors. For example, this can be the case with hypersensitivity to stimuli but also difficulty understanding or putting yourself in other people’s shoes.

However, there is another even more interesting fact. The alteration of this gene is not exclusive to the group with ASD (autism spectrum disorder). We can all present a variant of GABRB3 and thus show certain limits in terms of empathy.

Hypersensitivity in Asperger’s autism or the phenomenon of “over-empathy”

This fact is very interesting. Israeli neuroscientists Henry and Kamila Markram point out that one of the problems people with autism have is hypersensitivity to the experience. Everything is too intense and overwhelming. The world has too many stimuli, too many sounds, lights, smells, sensations …

So, and as striking as it sounds, the emotional world is also too chaotic for them. Everything is experienced in an excessive and painful way. As a result, they often suffer from excess anxiety.

However, according to these scientists, people with Asperger’s syndrome can still experience the feelings of others. However, they feel them too strongly and get blocked. Sometimes they don’t know how to react or what to do.

This feeling is not pleasant. They feel overwhelmed and therefore avoid eye contact. They turn away and tend to avoid certain social situations because these scenarios are too intrusive for their senses.

Ultimately, the empathy in people with Asperger’s syndrome is real. Indeed, it exists and it is beautiful and very present. However, it works differently. So this is something we have to understand. The internal world of these people is not easy. This is why they need our sensitivity, our respect and our alliance. This will allow them to integrate into our daily life at their own pace, in their own way and with their own vision of life.

Our thoughts

Learn more about autism spectrum disorder, a disorder that still holds many mysteries and is often the victim of prejudice …