New research challenges the traditional view that autistic individuals struggle to express their emotions or have limited emotional responses. Instead, findings from a Rutgers study reveal that many autistic adults possess a deep understanding of their feelings and can articulate them in rich, vibrant descriptions.
How do emotions like happiness, giddiness, or anger feel ?
In a Rutgers study, autistic adults described feelings of giddiness as resembling “bees”, while small joys were compared to “a nice coffee in the morning” that brings a “sense of elevation”. Anger, they noted, begins as a “body-tensing” heat that can lead to headaches.
The research, published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, contradicts long-held beliefs that autistic individuals cannot articulate their emotions. Instead, it shows that many autistic adults have a heightened awareness of their emotions and can express them vividly.
“What if everything we know about autism is wrong?” asked Aaron Dallman, an assistant professor of occupational therapy at Rutgers and lead author of the study.
“We often focus on the challenges of autism rather than truly understanding the autistic experience,” he added. “The widespread notion that autistic people lack emotional depth is simply incorrect.”
Dallman held focus groups to examine how young autistic adults express and navigate their emotions and interactions with others, aiming to find ways to bridge the emotional gap between autistic and non-autistic individuals.
Twenty-four autistic adults, aged 18 to 35, took part in one of six video conferences. Dallman guided the discussions, which included inquiries about physical expressions of emotions, experiences during therapy, and communication about feelings with others.
Transcripts were created and anonymized by a graduate research assistant. The data was then analyzed using qualitative research techniques that focus on individuals’ interpretations of their experiences.
Many participants felt that common emotional terms like “happy” or “sad” fell short in describing their intricate emotional lives. Instead, they often used detailed and dynamic language that integrated traditional emotion words with descriptions of physical sensations, particularly in the stomach area.
Additionally, participants highlighted the difficulties they faced during “affective contact”—emotional exchanges with non-autistic individuals—especially when their emotions are misunderstood.
One participant shared, “People have told me, ‘Wow, you look really happy right now,’ when I’m just kind of chilling out. I don’t know what makes me look extremely happy.”
From the early days of autism discussions, challenges in social interactions have been seen as a core aspect of autism spectrum disorder. Dallman noted that misunderstandings often arise when therapists or non-autistic people apply neurotypical emotional definitions, like assuming a smile means “happy” and a frown signifies “sad.” These interpretations often do not resonate with autistic individuals.
Consider eye contact, which non-autistic individuals often interpret as a sign of social interest; for many autistic people, making eye contact can be uncomfortable. Likewise, stimming behaviors—like hand flapping or rocking—aimed at emotional regulation, can be misconstrued negatively by those who are not autistic.
Dallman believes these findings may inform new therapeutic approaches for autism. Instead of pushing for changes in how autistic individuals communicate, he suggests focusing on improving mutual understanding among different perspectives on experiencing emotions.
“We don’t need to change everyone, but we should consider adapting classrooms and caregiver attitudes to better understand the messages communicated by autistic individuals and how they express their emotions,” Dallman advised. “It’s crucial for our communities to acknowledge and appreciate the unique viewpoints and contributions of autistic individuals.”
