Mind Blindness and Double Empathy: A Systematic Review of Theoretical Orientations in the Social Construction of Autism in Nepal

Abstract

Background: The “Mind-Blindness Theory” and the “Double Empathy Theory” are two major theoretical approaches in current international autism research, but they have received limited attention in studies conducted in Nepal. This study aims to analyze the developmental trajectories of these theoretical approaches among participants in Nepali autism research.

Methods: This study adopted the PRISMA 2020 framework to conduct a systematic review of relevant literature from Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, and NepJOL published between 2017 and 2025. A total of 18 core articles were ultimately included in the analysis, and thematic synthesis was used for thematic analysis and categorization.

Results: The results indicate that autism research in Nepal remains dominated by the “Mind-Blindness Theory” and a deficit-oriented medical model, and this theoretical orientation is also endorsed by the majority of respondents. Meanwhile, the “Double Empathy Theory” is only in its nascent stages among the respondent group. Additionally, religious beliefs and social stigma have, to some extent, influenced local societal perceptions of autism.

Conclusion: Currently, in autism research in Nepal, most respondents still primarily focus on “treatment” and behavioral correction. However, in recent years, some respondents in certain studies have begun to pay attention to neurodiversity, inclusive education, and social interaction issues. The “Double Empathy Theory” is gradually entering the research context in Nepal.

Novelty: This study represents the first attempt to systematically introduce the “Mind-Blindness Theory” and the “Double Empathy Theory” into autism research in Nepal, and it preliminarily constructs a developmental pathway model of the theoretical orientations among the respondents.