Psychology Today | 06.01.2026 02:25
Empathy is the ability to understand and be sensitive to the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of another. It is a common stereotype that autistic people do not have empathy. This stereotype is false and not backed up by the latest research. Unfortunately, because this concept was taught as fact for decades, many professionals still believe this concept to be true, and the idea that autistic people do not have empathy is often used against autistic people. For example, I have seen individuals who were told by clinical psychologists during neuropsychological testing that they could not be autistic because they have empathy, despite otherwise qualifying for the diagnosis. In my 20 years of practice with autistic people of all ages, I have worked with individuals whose empathy presents in unusual or atypical ways, but I have never met an autistic individual who had zero empathy.
