Understanding Social Cues: Do People with Asperger's Syndrome Miss Them or Miss the Point?

Many people with Asperger's Syndrome (AS) often find themselves navigating a complex social landscape with distinctive challenges. This difference in perception can sometimes be misconstrued as a failure to read social cues, when in reality, the issue is often more nuanced.

Compared to neurotypicals, individuals with AS typically have a broader range of physical senses, leading to a richer but potentially more overwhelming sensory experience. Neurotypicals often have a streamlined, instinctive way of filtering information into a foreground and a background. The background, consisting of less-relevant or unimportant details, is often instinctually ignored, as highlighted in the quote: “Neurotypicals tend to instantly have one bucket of foreground, their version of obvious, with a huge trough of background, everything unconcerning, which is instinctively ignored.” However, for people with AS, this distinction is less clear-cut.

Perception Differences

Neurotypicals have an intrinsic, default perception that is heavily influenced by societal norms and expectations. They develop a set of social cues that are widely recognized and commonly understood. On the other hand, AS individuals tend to perceive more detailed and varied social cues, often leading to a broader and sometimes more variable understanding. This difference is not simply a matter of learning or choosing not to read cues, but a result of diverse cognitive processes.

Difficulties Understanding Common Cues

Individuals with AS can see a multitude of potential social cues, sometimes more than their neurotypical counterparts. This amplification of social cues can lead to confusion, as neurotypical social cues are not always clearly defined. As one AS individual puts it, “literally the best we can do is sort for patterns and then make educated guesses, and then we get socially crucified every time we happen to guess wrong.”

Learning Social Cues Through Experience

Interestingly, some individuals with AS have found unconventional means to improve their social understanding. For example, acting classes can be incredibly beneficial in learning to read and interpret non-verbal cues. One person shares their experience: “I took 3.5 years of ACTING in high school. The amount I learned about cues in general from that class has helped me register all the hidden social cues you neurotypicals have…well, a lot of them. It still takes me a minute to be able to ‘read a room,’ but I know when my presence is no longer required or wanted in a conversation or room.”

Societal Perception of AS Individuals

Another point of contention is the “quiet” in a room. According to the individual, “Only when I watch and listen, I believe normies don’t know when to be quiet. But autistic people know who is talking smart and who knows what they are talking about. A president you vote for has social ques on questions on a big the greatest bullshirter politics is voted by [and] did that work out for ya?” This statement highlights the often misunderstood internal monologue and underlying knowledge of AS individuals, suggesting a deeper and more analytical understanding of social interactions than is outwardly evident.

Conclusion

The lack of understanding social cues often faced by individuals with AS is not a problem of willful ignorance but a result of the unique cognitive processes and sensory experiences they bring to social interactions. While it may take some time and effort to navigate these challenges, the insights gained are often profound and multifaceted. By recognizing and understanding these differences, both individuals with AS and neurotypicals can foster a more inclusive and supportive environment.