The Double Empathy Problem and Autism

The question asks about the double empathy problem, which suggests that autistic people have a different theory of mind rather than an impaired one. However, research indicates that theory of mind and empathy are impaired in autism compared to non-autistic individuals. While there have been recent cases of individuals with some autistic traits but without the cardinal features of the disorder, it's important to distinguish between those cases and the overall understanding of autism. Building a larger definition of autism may lead to mischaracterizations and misunderstandings. It's necessary to differentiate between typical and atypical ways of expressing emotions, which can impact social skills and understanding. Overall, there is value in studying the double empathy problem, but it doesn't negate the existing understanding of theory of mind and empathy differences in autism.