Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg A conversation with an autistic person (with Megan Neff)
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Aug 6, 2025 In a thought-provoking conversation with Megan Neff, a clinical psychologist and founder of Neurodivergent Insights, they delve into the nuances of autism. Neff shares insights from her journey of self-discovery and discusses empathy in autism, challenging the misconception that autistic individuals lack emotional understanding. The duo explores the complexities of special interests, social dynamics, and the significance of stimming. They also address the intersection of autism with gender and ADHD, and highlight the need for a more inclusive understanding of neurodiversity.
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Megan's Autism Discovery Journey
- Megan Neff discovered her autism after exploring it for her child while graduating with a doctorate in psychology.
- Initially skeptical, she embraced her diagnosis after recognizing that it explained many life puzzles she had experienced.
Empathy Types in Autism
- Autistic people often have similar affective empathy but reduced cognitive empathy, and may appear lacking in empathy due to misunderstandings.
- Around 50% of autistic people have alexithymia which can affect empathy because they struggle to identify their own emotions.
Autistic Context Insensitivity
- Autistic people struggle with implicit meanings and double meanings due to context insensitivity.
- Communication tends to be very direct and literal, which may cause misunderstandings with neurotypical indirectness.
