*Content warning: this story discusses hate speech and negative experiences of autistic individuals

There have been sporadic and disturbing media accounts of autistic* individuals who engage with extreme ideologies, but very little research has been done to explore the motivations behind their actions – until now. (*Note: many autistic self-advocates prefer to use identity-first language rather than people-first language in describing themselves. With this in mind, we are consciously choosing identity-first language for the purposes of describing and reporting on this study.)

A new international team of autism researchers, health-care practitioners, anti-extremist experts and autistic advocates have published a new study that examines the personal and contextual factors affecting autistic adults’ participation in online and offline hate forums.

How the study was conducted

Dr. Melanie Penner, the study’s lead author and her team interviewed 12 autistic adults, most who reside in the U.S. and one in Canada about their experiences with both online hate forums as well as offline groups such as attending rallies or meeting with people in-person. Most of the adults have been involved for a fairly long length of time but varied in the type of participation. For example, some adults’ involvement was listening to neo-Nazi music online while others had leadership roles with the more well-known hate groups.

What the study found

The research team identified three key themes that emerged from the interviews: early traumatic exposures, missed opportunities to build a positive identity, and finding a fit for neurodivergence.

“This study shows that there were so many factors beyond being autistic that helped to explain why these individuals in the study became involved with hate groups,” says Dr. Melanie Penner, senior clinician scientist at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital’s Bloorview Research Institute.

These individuals experienced traumatic or abusive situations, did not feel they belonged, felt angry or were bullied in part because they were neurodivergent. Many also did not receive a timely diagnosis so they missed out on the critical understanding of who they were, which may have contributed to a lot of stress in their lives.

“Like all humans, these autistic people sought friendship and a sense they were valued, and after failing to find that in their local communities, they were welcomed and accepted by certain hate groups, where they found a sense of belonging that they hadn’t experienced in the rest of society,” adds Dr. Penner. “This tells us that autism alone doesn’t explain why these individuals made the choice to engage in these groups.”

Creating a more inclusive society

“We need to create a more inclusive society for autistic people where they feel understood, have a sense of belonging, and have meaningful ways to contribute,” says Dr. Penner. “In order to accomplish that, we also need to have an understanding of being neurodivergent. It’s also important to understand the co-occurring conditions that go along with autism so autistic people, their loved ones, and professionals can have a good understanding of their identities, strengths, and needs.”

Dr. Penner says online spaces are also important places for autistic individuals find their community and find a sense of belonging. “Online forums can be a great place to connect to find community, but it’s good for individuals to be prepared for what they might encounter before they engage socially online.”

“This study champions the need for more inclusive environments that recognize and nurture the unique skills of autistic individuals while addressing the underlying factors that can contribute to their disenfranchisement. As someone who has worked extensively with individuals seeking to disengage from extremism, I’ve seen firsthand how social exclusion and unmet needs can drive vulnerable individuals toward harmful ideologies,” says co-author Christian Picciolini, a former extremist and founder of Free Radicals Project, an organization that works with hundreds of individuals to disengage them from hate groups. “By fostering environments that are both supportive and inclusive, we can help autistic people thrive and prevent their exploitation by those who seek to manipulate them for destructive purposes.”

The study, Neurodivergence and the Rabbit Hole of Extremism: Uncovering Lived Experience, is published online this month in the journal Autism in Adulthood. The study is part of a larger research study funded by a New Frontiers in Research Fund grant that is examining the link between autistic people and online hate.

Download the research backgrounder here.

The research team:

Dr. Melanie Penner, Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (lead author), Toronto, Canada

Sachindri Wijekoon, Western University, London, Canada

John Elder Robison, William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, U.S.

Christie Welch, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

Alexander Westphal, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.

Rachel Loftin, Northwestern University, Chicago, U.S.

Barbara Perry, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, Canada

Victoria Rombos, Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Canada

Christian Picciolini, Free Radicals Project, Michigan, U.S.

Catherine Bosy, Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Canada

Lili Senman, Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Canada

Patrick Jachyra, Durham University, Durham, U.K.

Simon Baron-Cohen, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, U.K.