Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including those who otherwise require less support, face severe difficulties in everyday social interactions. Research in this area has primarily focused on identifying the cognitive and neurological differences that contribute to these social impairments, but social interaction by definition involves more than one person and social difficulties may arise not just from people with ASD themselves, but also from the perceptions, judgments, and social decisions made by those around them. Here, across three studies, we find that first impressions of individuals with ASD made from thin slices of real-world social behavior by typically-developing observers are not only far less favorable across a range of trait judgments compared to controls, but also are associated with reduced intentions to pursue social interaction. These patterns are remarkably robust, occur within seconds, do not change with increased exposure, and persist across both child and adult age groups. However, these biases disappear when impressions are based on conversational content lacking audio-visual cues, suggesting that style, not substance, drives negative impressions of ASD. Collectively, these findings advocate for a broader perspective of social difficulties in ASD that considers both the individual’s impairments and the biases of potential social partners.
And you are just looking for another excuse to justify your depression and misanthropy. See how easy this game is to play?
Don’t just accuse people of operating under bad faith, unless you, yourself want to be accused of it.
Nothing they said was wrong. And you aren’t wrong either. However, we don’t know exactly what a future industrialized classless society will look or act like, and assuming data from our current societies is exactly the same kind of thin-slice bullshit people in this thread are accusing NT people of doing.
The fact of the matter is that in archeological evidence, we have evidence for horrifically maimed or disabled people being well cared for even in hunter gatherer societies. We also have evidence of certain societies practicing the kind of mass cannibalism that would sell well in a Victorian drama. It’s a mixed bag.
Humans are extremely complex social creatures who both manipulate, and are manipulated by, their environment. This means that reckless optimism or pessimism about ‘human nature’ is entirely unwarranted.
I don’t care what you accuse me of, I care about what best reflects current reality.
I think all of recorded history is enough of a time slice to make a best guess. Your comment amounts to nothing more than hopeful optimism when everything we have says otherwise.
“Stop complaining about people you meet thinking you’re less of a person for being ugly! Your family doesn’t let you starve to death so actually we’re good people.” You have no idea how these people were treated beyond their continued survival. At best, you can say that family and friends are willing to overlook stuff like this. But that doesn’t change the fact that every new person you meant instinctually judges you as lesser.