[h0l0cube]

> AIUI it's an absence or deficiency of theory of mind

This is become more and more a dated belief, especially as autistic voices are getting greater privilege to convey their own experiences. Autism may present as processing difficulties around interpreting body language and facial expressions, as a result of, or in concert with, sensory overload. These challenges don't exclude being able to empathize, but they do present obstacles. An autistic person might be confused for being self-absorbed as they're often dealing with these hidden struggles. I think also a lifetime of being misunderstood could manifest in either a combative or inward disposition.

This confusion between autistic and 'allistic' people is described by the "double empathy problem":

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_empathy_problem