Neurotype-matching, but not being autistic, influences self and observer ratings of interpersonal rapport

This article is fascinating, thank you for posting.

Applying a deficit model framework to paired interactions, autistic people should have the same difficulties interacting with autistic and non-autistic people (due to impairments in social communication) but difficulties would be compounded when two autistic people interact. A hypothesis based on this framework would predict that rapport between two non-autistic people would be highest, rapport between two autistic people would be lowest, and rapport between an autistic person and a non-autistic person would sit between these extremes.
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In summary, autistic people experience high interactional rapport when interacting with other autistic people, and this is also detected by external observers. Rather than autistic people experiencing low rapport in all contexts, their rapport ratings are influenced by a mismatch of diagnosis. These findings suggest that autistic people possess a distinct mode of social interaction style, rather than demonstrating social skills deficits.

Wow, they basically proved that deficit hypothesis totally wrong (needs to be replicated, it's just one study, etc.). I wonder if this has similar implications for other 'deficit' based mental conditions like ADHD.

👏 yet another strike against the deficit model of disability. Well done science Thank you for posting