The episode critiques how autistic people are sometimes misperceived as psychopathic—not due to overlapping traits, but because neurotypical observers often misinterpret autistic expressions of empathy. The double empathy problem is briefly introduced, showing that misunderstandings stem from a two-way mismatch in communication styles—not from an autistic deficit. The result: widespread stigma based on misjudgement.

Professor Simon Baron-Cohen presents his view in which autistic people are said to struggle with cognitive empathy but may show strong affective empathy. Yet this framing is rooted in neurotypical expectations and overlooks divergent emotional expression. Autistic people often experience deep empathy, but communicate it in ways that are simply not familiar to non-autistic observers—not lacking, just different.