ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

Autistic Patients Capable of Showing Empathy for Others

People with autism can recognise complex emotions such as regret and relief in fellow humans, shows a research.

Published
Fit
1 min read
story-hero-img
i
Aa
Aa
Small
Aa
Medium
Aa
Large
Hindi Female

People with autism can recognise complex emotions such as regret and relief in fellow humans, shows a research that breaks a persistent stereotype that people with mental, emotional and behavioural disorders lack empathy and cannot understand emotion.

Psychologists from the University of Kent in Britain used eye-tracking technology to monitor the adults as they read stories in which a character made a decision and then experienced a positive or negative outcome.

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

They found that adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were quickly able to think about how things might have turned out differently (either better or worse than reality) and then judge whether the story character would regret or get relief which is known as counterfactual emotions.

The findings, published in the journal Autism Research, demonstrated that they were just as good at recognizing regret emotions in the character as adults without the condition and even better at computing relief.

"We have shown that contrary to previous research that has highlighted the difficulties adults with autism experience with empathy and perspective-taking, people with autism possess previously overlooked strengths in processing emotions," said lead author Heather Ferguson, a Professor from the varsity.

(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)

0

Read Latest News and Breaking News at The Quint, browse for more from fit

Topics:  Autism   Emotions   Empathy 

Speaking truth to power requires allies like you.
Become a Member
3 months
12 months
12 months
Check Member Benefits
Read More
×
×