50 pages • 1 hour read
Devon PriceUnmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2022A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 4-5Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 4 Summary: “The Cost of Masking”
Chapter 4 discusses the various coping strategies and detrimental behaviors that masked Autistic individuals often adopt to conform to neurotypical standards and manage sensory overwhelm or social pressures.
Price explains that Autistic people often experience sensory overload due to their distinct neurological processing, which makes them more susceptible to being overwhelmed by sensory stimuli over time. This can lead to states of sensory overload, manifesting as meltdowns, shutdowns, or irrational responses. To cope with this sensory overwhelm and the demands of social regulation, many Autistic adults turn to problematic drinking habits or substance use. Price notes that traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approaches may not be as effective for Autistic individuals, suggesting the need for modified treatments that consider the unique communication and sensory processing needs of Autistic people.
There is a noted correlation between Autism and eating disorders, particularly among women, transgender individuals, and those diagnosed later in life. Price observes that masked Autistics may be drawn to eating disorders due to their structured nature and the control they offer. He emphasizes the importance of Autism-friendly eating disorder treatments and finding non-performative, authentic ways to seek belonging and social structure.
To cope with the pressures of masking, many Autistics mentally detach or dissociate, leading to a diminished sense of agency and a reduced awareness of their physical warning signals. This detachment can exacerbate issues like alexithymia: difficulty in recognizing and naming one’s emotions. Price partially attributes alexithymia to the fact that Autistic individuals are not taught to understand their emotional and physical states—they are instead conditioned to prioritize others’ feelings.
Masked Autistics may seek structure in high-control groups, such as radical political organizations or cults. These groups exploit individuals’ need for belonging and structure, appealing to their desire for clear rules and social safety. Autistic adults, especially those in socioeconomically precarious positions, are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and mistreatment in these environments. Price discusses how some Autistic individuals, especially men, are drawn to extremist groups that provide a sense of belonging and safety for expressing taboo thoughts.
Many masked Autistics adopt a people-pleasing demeanor, engaging in the trauma response of “fawning” to avoid social threats (See: Index of Terms). This behavior involves pacifying others and hiding one's own needs, which can lead to a lack of meaningful connections and increased vulnerability to domestic abuse. Autistic individuals’ challenges in identifying their emotions and negotiating consent can exacerbate these issues, making it difficult to voice their needs or recognize when they are being mistreated or made uncomfortable.
Chapter 5 Summary: “Rethinking Autism”
Chapter 5 is centered on the process of unmasking and reevaluating the stereotypes and beliefs about Autism that have been internalized by Autistic individuals. Price argues that unmasking involves questioning society’s values and learning to view previously stigmatized traits as neutral or even as strengths.
Price discusses the concept of self-stigma: Individuals from stigmatized groups internalize negative stereotypes about themselves, which often results in reduced self-esteem and a reluctance to seek help. Price emphasizes the importance of owning one’s disability proudly, as it can improve self-perception and change the attitudes of neurotypical people around them. The chapter illustrates how traits often labeled negatively in Autistic individuals, like childishness or stubbornness, can be reframed as positive qualities like joy, curiosity, and principled behavior.
Price encourages Autistic individuals to reclaim their passions and special interests, which have often been suppressed due to societal pressure. Special interests are described as a source of joy and a means of developing emotional awareness and coping strategies. However, societal norms often label these interests as frivolous or selfish if they do not align with productive or financial goals. Price argues that engaging with special interests is associated with increased well-being and should be embraced rather than shamed.
The chapter suggests exercises to help Autistic individuals rediscover their core values by reflecting on key moments in their lives that made them feel truly alive. Price shares some of his own values—including courage—and asserts that it is his Autism, not his masking, that enables him to live in accordance with these values.
Price affirms that being Autistic in a neurotypical world, and being forced to mask, is a traumatic experience, one that often results in a fragmentation of self. He suggests practicing gratitude toward one’s past self as a means of healing and integrating different aspects of selfhood. Price stresses that Autism is an integral part of an Autistic individual’s identity, and that it contributes positively to one’s life in ways that go beyond neurotypical standards of success.
In concluding the chapter, Price invites readers to reflect on the positive aspects of Autism in their lives. The chapter challenges the self-stigma and shame often associated with Autism, encouraging Autistic individuals to see themselves as people with valuable and unique qualities.
Chapters 4-5 Analysis
In both Chapters 4 and 5, Price discusses the profound impact of Masking and Its Consequences. Masking, the act of hiding or suppressing Autistic traits to fit into societal norms, often leads to detrimental coping strategies. Price explains that this continuous effort to appear neurotypical can result in sensory overload, meltdowns, and shutdowns. Furthermore, the psychological toll of masking often leads Autistic individuals to seek structure and control through harmful means like substance abuse, eating disorders, and involvement in high-control groups. For instance, Price shows how alcohol and substance abuse are closely tied to the experience of Autistic masking: “Many Autistic adults report problematic drinking habits, or substance use disorders. Dulling our sensory sensitivities is one of the key reasons for this link. Another reason is that substances assist us with social regulation” (115). This analysis highlights the immense emotional and psychological burden that masking imposes on Autistic individuals.
Price emphasizes the innate human need for belonging and how it particularly impacts Autistic individuals. Due to societal exclusion and misunderstanding, Autistic individuals often find themselves drawn to high-control groups, eating disorders, and people-pleasing behaviors as a way to find structure, acceptance, and control in their lives. This need for belonging, coupled with the challenges of Autism, makes them vulnerable to harmful behaviors and exploitation. At the same time, the fact that a need for belonging and socialization underpins all these coping strategies debunks the myth of Autistic people as antisocial, aloof, and unfeeling, linking this section to the theme of Challenging Stereotypes and Misconceptions About Autism.
Price elaborates on the book’s theme of Challenging Stereotypes and Misconceptions About Autism. In these chapters, he offers reframing and reclaiming as useful tools in the process of unmasking. Chapter 5 focuses on reframing Autistic experiences and traits in a positive light. Price says:
It’s heartening to witness how fellow masked Autistics take proud ownership of traits they once deeply disliked and were taught to loathe: childishness, selfishness, stubbornness, being a robot. Looked at from another angle, childishness is joy and open curiosity. Selfishness is a vital protective skill. One interviewee told me that his stubbornness and moral clarity is what allowed him to be a whistle-blower when he discovered his company was violating customer privacy protections (145-46).
Price also encourages readers to reclaim their special interests and passions, which are often stigmatized by society, as sources of joy and self-expression. He discusses how reframing previously stigmatized traits, such as stubbornness or intensity, as positive qualities can lead to a more authentic and fulfilling life. This process of reframing and reclaiming is presented as a powerful technique for Autistic individuals to challenge internalized stigma and embrace their true selves.
