"A groundbreaking study suggests people with autism-spectrum disorders such as Asperger’s do not lack empathy—rather they feel others’ emotions too intensely to cope. People with Asperger’s syndrome, a high functioning form of autism, are often stereotyped as distant loners or robotic geeks. But what if what looks like coldness to the outside world is in fact a response to being overwhelmed by emotion—an excess of empathy, not a lack of it? This idea resonates with many people suffering from autism-spectrum disorders and their families. It also jibes with new thinking about the nature of autism called the “intense world” theory. As posited by Henry and Kamila Markram of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, suggests that the fundamental problem in autism-spectrum disorders is not a social deficiency, but rather an hypersensitivity to experience, which includes an overwhelming fear response." - Cee Bee from Bookmarklet

i've read about autism and autism-related disorders, but i've just never been able to comprehend it. this puts at least a little bit into perspective (if true) - Cee Bee

Ooooooooo... this jibes with what I know of one Aspie I know well, and another person who is probably on the spectrum but not far enough to be diagnosed as an Aspie. VERY interesting theory! - Ladyepiphanybug

That theory makes a lot of sense when you think about how most of us suffer from sensor integration issues which is the same thing and that most are deeply emotional. - RAPatton

This really, really makes sense to me, like super-taster kids not wanting to eat anything but plain foods. - WoH: Minding her Botts

I imagine that trying to deal with it shuts them down...very interesting. - WoH: Minding her Botts

Yep. - Shawna

Very interesting. - Carmen wBabby

I agree w/ @Shawna "Yep". - ‘-.-’ Tutivillus Grift