Empathizing and systemizing are differentially related to dimensions of autistic traits in the general population

Abstract

Background/Objective:Empathizing-Systemizing Theory suggests that low empathizing and high systemizing are linked to autistic traits in the general population. Evidence from autistic individuals is convincing, but more research in the normal population is needed. Method: We conducted two surveys (N = 3,345) investigating the relationships between empathizing, systemizing and autistic traits in the general population, using a large variety of self-report instruments and direct performance tests. Results: Strong connections between autistic symptoms, empathizing, and systemizing were found using commonly used measures (Autism Quotient, Systemizing Quotient and Empathizing Quotient). Other measures on empathizing and systemizing found the connections that E-S-theory predicts, but the correlations were a lot more modest. Weak empathizing was related to autism's social difficulties, while systemizing was linked to non-social aspects of autism. Conclusions: The present results support the main tenets of empathizing-systemizing theory, but suggest that earlier findings might be inflated due to overlapping items in the most common assessment instruments.

Empathizing, systemizing, empathizing‐systemizing difference and their association with autistic traits in children with autism spectrum disorder, with and without intellectual disability

“…Specifically, we found that empathizing‐systemizing difference was positively associated with autistic traits including social‐communicative functioning difficulties and RRB within the three groups. Although there is no previous study on the association of empathizing‐systemizing difference with social‐communicative functioning difficulties in children with ASD, our novel finding lends support to a previous study that the social information processing of children with ASD requires the participation of both cognitive dimensions including empathizing and systemizing (Svedholm‐Häkkinen et al, 2018). In our study, both children with ASD + ID and ASD‐noID have imbalanced profiles of systemizing and empathizing which might affect their ability to engage in social‐communicative functioning and RRB.…”

Understanding Oneself to Understand Others: The Role of Alexithymia and Anxiety in the Relationships Between Autistic Trait Dimensions and Empathy

“…From findings such as these, Happé and Ronald (2008) recommended investigating these dimensions independently to help capture the heterogeneity seen within the autism spectrum. In some preliminary research on empathy, higher scores on a social difficulties dimension were found to relate to reduced cognitive and affective empathy, and to increased personal distress, whereas higher scores on a non-social dimension, interest in numbers and patterns, related only to reduced affective empathy (Svedholm-Häkkinen et al, 2018). However, Svedholm-Häkkinen et al (2018) used the numbers and patterns factor from the short version of the AQ (Hoekstra et al, 2011) which showed low reliability (Cronbach's α = .57; Svedholm-Häkkinen et al, 2018).…”

“…In some preliminary research on empathy, higher scores on a social difficulties dimension were found to relate to reduced cognitive and affective empathy, and to increased personal distress, whereas higher scores on a non-social dimension, interest in numbers and patterns, related only to reduced affective empathy (Svedholm-Häkkinen et al, 2018). However, Svedholm-Häkkinen et al (2018) used the numbers and patterns factor from the short version of the AQ (Hoekstra et al, 2011) which showed low reliability (Cronbach's α = .57; Svedholm-Häkkinen et al, 2018). Liss et al (2008) explored the relationships of social and non-social autistic trait dimensions with alexithymia and found that only social difficulties showed a significant positive relationship.…”

Effectiveness of play-based empathy training on social skills in students with Autistic Spectrum Disorders

“…Social interaction, verbal/nonverbal communication, interests, activities and imagination ability are impaired in these children; furthermore, no full agreement is adopted about causes, symptoms, etiology and treatment of this disorder [9]. Emotional recognition is an important aspect of social cognition [10] while lack of precision in recognition of fundamental emotions in social/non-social domains is considered an autistic characteristic [11]. Sperry& Mesibov (2005) indicate that autistic patients' problems in social interactions relate to their inability to express empathy to others [12].…”

“…Sperry& Mesibov (2005) indicate that autistic patients' problems in social interactions relate to their inability to express empathy to others [12]. In addition, lack of guilty feeling and poor ability to recognize facial expressions lead these patients to make many mistakes in interpersonal interaction [11].…”