URL: https://ausm.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/DoubleEmpathypdf.pdf
The Double Empathy Problem refers to the fact that no one has direct access to another person’s thoughts, intentions, and feelings. We are all more or less guessing about what other people mean all the time. The more similar our background, experiences, upbringing, etc., the easier it is to guess at another person’s thoughts and feelings. Differences in cognitive styles, communication styles, and cultural background make it harder to guess.
Different Thinking Styles
- Bottom-up vs. top-down thinking
- Categorical vs. continuous
- Logical vs. intuitive
- Visual vs. verbal vs. kinesthetic
Different Communication Styles
- Precise vs. metaphoric
- Consistent vs. context-specific
- Speak the truth focus vs. say what is appropriate focus
- Detail vs. summarizing
- Flat vs. labile facial expression