Thin Slice Judgments: The Social Bias That Haunts Autism

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By: Vanessa Blanchard

This article is part of an ongoing series where we define various important terms in the Autistic community.  You can find the original longform article that started this series here.

It seems like it’s maybe kind of hard to like me, which is tough, because I feel like I’m pretty cool. Yet people seem to struggle with me.  It feels like they take me the wrong way, or assume the worst about me or my intentions.  I always felt at least a little like an outsider, while everyone else was fully allowed.  For years, I felt super alone in this, but then I found out I was Autistic.  The commonality of this experience among Autistics is shocking. In trying to learn more, I found this study, which talks about the role of thin slice judgments as an autism-specific form of implicit social bias.

It seems like very important information that every Autistic person should know.  Because it haunts your life whether you know it or not.  But knowing empowers you to cope better.

What are thin slice judgments?

Thin slice judgments are social assessments that are made in a split second.  They are formed from nonverbal cues: facial expressions, posture, gestures, etc.  When these judgments are applied to Autistic people, it results in our marginalization -- usually quite quickly.

Thin Slice Judgments in Autism

This is where the study comes in.  Researchers from the University of Texas in Dallas found that non-Autistic people formed these thin slice judgments in response to signs of autism spotted during nonverbal communication. A couple patterns were found:

• The non-Autistic person made lasting negative assessments of the Autistic person very quickly, usually upon introduction.

• Their thin slice judgments were not changed by repeated interaction with the Autistic person.

• They preferred to cut contact with the Autistic person entirely. 

The study goes on to point out a key distinction: Most of the time, stereotyped assumptions are changed through meaningful contact with the other person.  However, non-Autistic people tended to deny the Autistic person a chance for meaningful interactions.  

To be clear: Research shows that non-Autistic people judge Autistic people harshly based on very little information and then remove that Autistic person from their lives rather than learn more.  It was found to be a pervasive problem.

Kind of makes you think, doesn’t it?  Like, aren’t social deficits listed as a core trait of autism? Let’s briefly explore that.

Want to see how thin slice judgments affect Autistic people at work? Check out our Complete Guide to Autistic Employment Statistics

Social Deficits in Autism?

Most research and medical definitions of autism include the phrase, “social deficits.”  However, Autistic people report en masse that they break themselves to pieces trying to “get it right” in social settings.  

The truth is, communication is a give and take kind of thing.  Both research and anecdotal evidence indicate that non-Autistic people aren’t reciprocating efforts.  Rather, they’re moving to marginalize Autistic people based on almost no information.  

No, it’s more than that.  Non-Autistic people are harshly judging Autistics based on a rejection of the information available to them.  

This same paper asserts that the problem is best solved with non-Autistic acceptance of autism.   It’s wasteful and unfair to insist on teaching Autistic people social skills and on pressuring them to “manage external impressions” of them.

Autistic people report in droves about the high cost of that impression management.  So, let’s look now at what being left alone to fend off thin slice judgments does to a person.

The Role of Autistic Masking

Autistics have told countless stories of the moment the vibe in the room shifts against them.  We speak of trying to change ourselves to fit in, to do better next time.  We can often tell when we’re on the way out of a friend group or a job.  When we try to advocate for ourselves, we’re often gaslighted or labeled as difficult.  And to be honest, these people sometimes even mean well, but they never seem to trust our perspectives.  Instead, they insist we shift ours to one that’s more...agreeable?

And this is where masking comes in.  Masking is the impression management that doesn’t work.  Autistic people are taught to suppress and change core aspects of their thinking, communication, values, perceptions, and behaviors so that others won’t judge us in some immovable way.  It’s too much!  

We have to act non-Autistic so that non-Autistic people never, ever spot autism in us.  Yet, how we communicate, how we think, these are who we are.  Autistic masking is an attempt to change our core selves to outrun thin slice judgments.

The Good News

Learning about thin slice judgments, their specific application to autism, and their common place in autistic lives is pretty grim at first.  But there are a few reasons why this information is empowering to Autistic peope.

First, the study also found that the thin slice bias could be reduced with a bit of education about autistic communication.  Making people aware of the bias and providing context into Autistic non verbal styles helped them reframe their social expectations.

For me, finding out about this made me feel less unlikable. A ubiquitous social bias can’t possibly be actually personal to me, especially one based on micro facial expressions.  There’s literally no reliable personal information conveyed with such small pieces of an overall picture.

Another thing it did is give me a more concrete awareness and a vocabulary that helps me determine what’s happening during social interactions.  I can advocate for myself better in these moments.  I can choose social strategies that consider this dynamic. 

I’m not as angry at people as I was, either. It’s still exhausting sometimes to have to gently educate people, but I view them more as uninformed than I view them as malicious. I have more sympathy, feel less personally rejected, and can sometimes turn situations around in my favor. (I think the key here is confidence in what I know and in who I am, aka Autistic).

Not everyone making thin slice judgements about autism are acting in good faith.  But a lot of people are willing to take on small pieces of information if it makes social interactions go more smoothly. 

TLDR: What are Thin Slice Judgments?

Research shows that non-autistic people form thin slice judgments against Autistic people based on nonverbal cues.  These social biases form quickly, are persistent, and result in marginalization of Autistic folks. Knowing about thin slice judgments as a social bias allows Autistic people a more strategic, less emotionally expensive approach to navigating social situations.  It can still sting to be rejected based on nothing, but it’s easier to navigate -- and there’s more hope for successful outcomes -- if you have the vocabulary and awareness you need to keep a clear head.

Looking for a job but don’t know where to start?  Check out our email course: 

How to Find a Job When You’re Autistic