Understanding Camouflaging as a Response to Autism-Related Stigma: A Social Identity Theory Approach

Perry, Ella; Mandy, William; Hull, Laura; Cage, Eilidh

doi:10.1007/s10803-021-04987-w

Cited by 153 publications

(180 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…While reducing stigma and dehumanizing attitudes toward those that are different is a rather long-term and gargantuan undertaking, more research into the experience of stigma across neurotypes and what can be done to mitigate its impact in the meantime can help to improve the lives of those who are stigmatized. 24,41 All the groups spoke of how draining masking is, which is consistent with previous research, 19,30 but the autistic participants alone related this exhaustion to suicidality 37 and unhealthy coping mechanisms. This may be related to removal or suppression of usual healthy coping mechanisms such as stimming (mentioned in theme 4), as coping strategies are an important buffer against the effects of stigma.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…This is consistent with previous research, which shows that a disconnection with one's identity has a negative effect across those who feel like they cannot be themselves, 19,25 and is often driven by outside pressures and stigma. 19,41 Masking has been associated with mental health issues in autistic people, 19,20 which is unsurprising given the negative impact it has upon their sense of self. Our findings support previous research suggesting that masking (as a facet of stigma avoidance) has both physical and mental consequences across marginalized groups.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our findings support previous research suggesting that masking (as a facet of stigma avoidance) has both physical and mental consequences across marginalized groups. 30,41 More research is needed to address the relationship between masking and mental health across neurotypes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

“Masking Is Life”: Experiences of Masking in Autistic and Nonautistic Adults

Miller

Rees

Pearson

2021

Autism in Adulthood

130

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Background: Autistic masking is an emerging research area, and so far, research has suggested that masking has a negative effect on autistic people. Masking relates to general social practices (such as identity management) and is often driven by stigma avoidance. Many nonautistic people also experience stigma that might drive them to suppress aspects of their identity. In this study, we investigate similarities and differences in experiences of masking in autistic and nonautistic people. Methods: We conducted an online survey about experiences and views of masking in autistic people (n = 144), neurodivergent people without an autism diagnosis (n = 49), and neurotypical people (n = 45) recruited via social media. We used thematic analysis to analyze responses to open-ended items about masking, using an inductive approach, at a semantic level, with a critical realist paradigm. Results: Thematic analysis revealed that some aspects of masking are shared across autistic and nonautistic people, such as utilizing mimicry of others as a social strategy or feeling exhausted from masking. All groups reported that masking made them feel disconnected from their true sense of identity and had a negative effect on them. Other aspects of masking seemed more specific to autistic people, such as sensory suppression, and masking leading to suicidal ideation. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that many aspects of masking are experienced across different neurotypes and are likely related to outside perceptions of difference and stigma. It is likely that what we call ''autistic masking'' is similar to other forms of stigma management previously theorized. Some aspects of masking do seem more specific to the autistic neurotype (e.g., suppression of stimming) and should be explored further to provide support for autistic people recovering from the negative impact of masking.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“Masking Is Life”: Experiences of Masking in Autistic and Nonautistic Adults

Miller

Rees

Pearson

2021

Autism in Adulthood

130

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“…However, compared to most non-autistic people, autistic people are more likely to experience a mismatch between their natural way of being and the demands of the social environment; the consequence of which may be stigmatisation and discrimination Lai & Baron-Cohen, 2015;Perry et al, 2021). Aspects of camouflaging may be unique to autism since camouflaging represents an attempt to manage this mismatch between a person's autistic way of being and the non-autistic social environment.…”

Section: Is Camouflaging Associated With Having High Autistic Traits or An Autism Diagnosis?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Camouflaging in autism: A systematic review

Cook

Hull

Crane

et al. 2021

Clinical Psychology Review

Self Cite

251

173

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Highlights• Current approaches to measuring camouflaging appear to measure two distinct but potentially related elements of camouflaging, namely, 'camouflaging intent' and 'camouflaging efficacy'.• Adults with more self-reported autistic traits report greater engagement in camouflaging.• Sex and gender differences exist in camouflaging.• Higher self-reported camouflaging is associated with worse mental health outcomes.• Study designs are limited by poor participant characterisation and representativeness.

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“…Given that autistic people commonly experience devaluation, rejection and misunderstanding (Kinnear et al, 2016;Milton et al, 2018;Sasson et al, 2017) as well as the central role autism often plays in the identity of autistic people, it has been argued that autistic people represent an identity-based minority group subjected to social stigma and disadvantaged social status (Botha, Dibb, & Frost, 2020;. As such, masking behaviours could be understood within a stigma framework, as an attempt to prevent prejudice and discrimination by concealing or strategically attenuating autistic identity Cage & Troxell-Whitman, 2020;Pearson & Rose, 2021;Perry et al, 2021).…”

Section: Maskingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-reported camouflaging behaviours used by autistic adults during everyday social interactions

Cook

Crane

Hull

et al. 2021

Autism

Self Cite

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Autistic people may camouflage their innate autistic social behaviours to adapt to, cope within and/or influence the predominately neurotypical social landscape. This study describes behaviours exhibited, altered or avoided by autistic adults whilst camouflaging (i.e. camouflaging behaviours). Using Interpersonal Process Recall methodology, 17 autistic adults (8 women, 6 men and 3 agender/gender neutral individuals) participated in a brief social task designed to replicate a common day-to-day social situation. Participants then watched a video of their interaction with a researcher, actively identifying and describing camouflaging behaviours. Using qualitative content analysis, descriptions of 38 camouflaging behaviours described by participants were clustered into four main categories and seven subcategories: (1) masking, (2) innocuous engagement (subcategories: passive encouragement, centring social partner, deferential engagement and reducing social risk), (3) modelling neurotypical communication and (4) active self-presentation (subcategories: reciprocal social behaviours, risky social behaviours, and comfortable and familiar social behaviours). The novel use of Interpersonal Process Recall methodology addressed limitations in existing camouflaging research and facilitated the identification of previously unreported camouflaging behaviours. These camouflaging behaviours are discussed with reference to literature concerning interpersonal research and theory within and outside the field of autism. Lay abstract Camouflaging can be thought of as the process through which autistic people modify their natural social behaviours to adapt to, cope within or influence the largely neurotypical (non-autistic) social world. Many autistic people experience negative reactions to their natural or intuitive social behaviours when interacting with non-autistic people. Over time, in response to these negative reactions, autistic people’s social behaviour often changes. We refer to autistic people’s changed behaviours as ‘camouflaging behaviours’. Research exploring camouflaging behaviours is still at an early stage. This study investigated camouflaging behaviours used by autistic adults in everyday social interactions using a research method that was new to the field of autism. Specifically, 17 autistic adults were filmed taking part in a common everyday social situation – a conversation with a stranger. With the help of the video of this conversation, they then showed and described their camouflaging behaviours to a researcher. These autistic people identified and described a total of 38 different camouflaging behaviours. The detailed and specific information provided by autistic adults about camouflaging behaviours generated important new insights into the ways in which autistic people adapt to, cope within and influence the neurotypical (non-autistic) social world.

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Understanding Camouflaging as a Response to Autism-Related Stigma: A Social Identity Theory Approach

Cited by 153 publications

References 55 publications

“Masking Is Life”: Experiences of Masking in Autistic and Nonautistic Adults

“Masking Is Life”: Experiences of Masking in Autistic and Nonautistic Adults

Camouflaging in autism: A systematic review

Self-reported camouflaging behaviours used by autistic adults during everyday social interactions

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