Implicit Bias and Its Effect on Prosocial Effort in Autistic and Non-Autistic Individuals

Recent research indicates that societal stigma and implicit biases towards autistic people can influence the level of effort individuals are willing to invest in prosocial or charitable behaviors. A study conducted by the University of Birmingham involved 30 autistic and 30 non-autistic adults who were asked to squeeze a hand grip to earn rewards either for themselves, for others sharing their neurotype, or for those with a different neurotype.

Findings revealed that all participants prioritized earning rewards for themselves over others, and efforts to help others were generally lower regardless of whether the recipient was autistic or non-autistic. Interestingly, while non-autistic individuals exerted similar effort for both autistic and non-autistic peers, autistic participants showed a tendency to invest more effort when helping fellow autistic individuals.

A significant aspect of the study was the assessment of implicit and explicit biases. Results showed that implicit biases against autistic people, measured through implicit association tests, were linked to a reduced willingness to exert effort for others. Explicit biases, on the other hand, did not predict effort levels.

For autistic individuals, stronger implicit biases correlated with lower motivation to help their autistic peers. In non-autistic participants, implicit biases did not affect effort directed at autistic individuals but were associated with increased effort for non-autistic peers.

Dr. Sophie Sowden-Carvalho emphasized the importance of these findings, suggesting that unconscious biases play a more substantial role in prosocial behavior than conscious attitudes. Addressing implicit biases and promoting acceptance can potentially improve support and cooperation between different neurotype groups. The implications extend to workplaces and educational settings, where implicit biases may subtly influence decision-making, resource allocation, and opportunities for autistic individuals, even when explicit discrimination is absent.

This study underscores the need to understand and mitigate unconscious biases to foster more inclusive and supportive environments for autistic people.

Source: medicalxpress.com