Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 21, 2025
08:31
Conscious and Non-conscious Representations of Emotional Faces in Asperger's Syndrome
Published on: July 31, 2016
13.6K
Reconsidering autistic 'camouflaging' as transactional impression management
Wei Ai1, William A Cunningham2, Meng-Chuan Lai3
1Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G3, Canada; Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada.
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|May 31, 2022
Summary
Autistic camouflaging, a social performance strategy, is reframed as impression management (IM). This perspective highlights unique challenges autistic individuals face and the need for societal change and tailored support.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Social Sciences
Background:
- Social performances are integral to human interaction.
- Autistic individuals often use 'camouflaging' to navigate social challenges in a neurotypical world.
- Camouflaging involves managing one's autistic traits to appear more neurotypical.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-examine autistic camouflaging within the framework of impression management (IM).
- To analyze overlapping and distinct motivations, neurocognitive mechanisms, and consequences of IM in autistic and neurotypical individuals.
- To propose a computational model of IM based on predictive coding and Bayesian principles.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and theoretical synthesis.
- Development of a computational model of impression management.
- Analysis of motivations, neurocognitive processes, and outcomes of camouflaging.
Main Results:
- Impression management (IM) is a transactional and context-dependent process.
- Autistic individuals face distinct computational challenges in IM.
- Compelled IM can lead to significant psychological distress for autistic individuals.
Conclusions:
- Viewing autistic camouflaging as IM underscores the need for societal attitude shifts.
- Destigmatizing autism and refining social skills programs are crucial.
- Integrating individual-focused programs with environment-focused support is essential for autistic well-being.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:19Managing Impressions
7
Impression management encompasses individuals' deliberate efforts to shape how others perceive them during social interactions. This behavior is often employed to conform to social norms, secure approval, or pursue specific goals. While it involves selective self-presentation, it is not necessarily deceptive; individuals frequently present authentic aspects of themselves that align with situational demands.Common strategies include:Ingratiation: where individuals use flattery or agreeableness...
7
01:29Impression Management Techniques I: Managing Appearances
6
Appearance is a multidimensional aspect of self-presentation that encompasses observable attributes such as clothing, grooming, speech, and nonverbal behavior. These elements are often strategically managed to align with socially constructed expectations in different settings. For instance, individuals tailor their appearance during job interviews, social gatherings, or athletic events to meet the perceived norms of those environments.Contextual Adaptation and Social SignalsThe research...
6
01:26Modeling in Therapy
158
Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
158
02:05Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
40.6K
People can go to great lengths to protect their self-image and present themselves in ways that they want others to see them. Sociologist Erving Goffman presented the idea that a person is like an actor on a stage. Calling his theory dramaturgy, Goffman believed that we use “impression management” to present ourselves to others as we hope to be perceived. Each situation is a new scene, and individuals perform different roles depending on who is present (Goffman, 1959). Think about...
40.6K
01:14Impression Management Techniques IV: Altercasting
4
Altercasting is a strategic communication technique in which an individual imposes a specific identity or social role onto another person to influence their behavior and shape the interaction. By presuming a role—such as “responsible leader” or “patient person”—altercasting encourages the target to conform to that identity, often aligning their behavior with the expectations associated with the role. The power of this tactic lies in its subtlety; once a role...
4
01:29Impression Management Techniques III: Aligning Actions
7
Aligning actions are communicative strategies individuals employ to maintain social harmony and preserve personal identity in the face of potential disruptions to social norms. These actions are particularly important in managing social impressions when one's behavior might be seen as inappropriate, incompetent, or morally questionable.Types of Aligning ActionsThe three principal types of aligning actions are disclaimers, accounts, and apologies.DisclaimersDisclaimers are preventive; they are...
7