Stereotypes of autism in TV and film may be linked to delayed diagnosis, study finds

Stereotypes of autistic men in films and TV programs may contribute to delayed diagnosis of autistic women and non-binary people, a new University of Stirling study has found. Research conducted by a group of autistic and non-autistic researchers, led by Sarah Dantas of the University’s Faculty of Natural Sciences, has found that women and non-binary people may experience delayed diagnosis because dominant images of autism in the media don’t match their own experiences.

The study showed that portrayals in the media lacked diversity, often focusing on white, socially awkward, mathematically gifted male characters such as Sheldon Cooper in “The Big Bang Theory” and Raymond Babbitt in “Rain Man.”

Researchers found that portrayals were designed to be immediately identifiable to non-autistic viewers. However, autistic participants felt that such autistic characters were often exaggerated and simplified, to the extent that they were no longer relatable to autistic people themselves.

Psychology researcher Ms. Dantas explained, “This study highlights how powerful representation can be. When autism is portrayed narrowly, it can limit both public understanding and self-understanding. Participants described how stereotypical portrayals contributed to delayed diagnosis both for themselves and others, including their children. Because the dominant image of autism did not match their own experiences, they didn’t recognize it as a possibility. In some cases, this meant that signs were overlooked or dismissed for years.”

The study found a clear contrast between two broad types of media representation. Participants described many portrayals, mostly in cinema and news articles, as dehumanizing and rooted in a deficit-based view of autism, where the condition is framed primarily in terms of what is “wrong” or must be fixed.

These portrayals often reduce autistic people to a narrow set of traits and present them as lacking complexity, autonomy, or emotional depth, so that they are easily identifiable to non-autistic consumers.

In contrast, participants spoke very positively about representations grounded in lived experience, particularly those created by autistic people themselves. These were often found in social media spaces, books, or research rooted in a neurodiversity perspective. These representations were described as more nuanced and human, helping participants make sense of their own experiences, advocate for themselves, and feel more connected to similar others.

The research combined focus group discussions with participatory creative methods, including a zine‑making process. Zines are self‑produced booklets—using drawings, collage, writing, and poetry—allowed participants to communicate how media portrayals shaped their experiences, self‑understanding, and recognition of autism in ways that extended beyond traditional interviews.

The participant artwork and zine were later displayed in a public exhibition at The Tolbooth in Stirling as a way of sharing these perspectives directly with the wider community.

Ms. Dantas continued, “Traditionally, autism has been defined largely by non-autistic professionals, often through a medical or deficit-focused lens. This means that autistic people’s own testimony about their lived experiences has not always been treated as equally valid or important.

“Our findings show that this imbalance has consequences. When representations are shaped without autistic input, they can become dehumanizing and disconnected from lived reality. By contrast, when autistic people can define and share their own experiences, representations become more nuanced, accurate, and meaningful.

“Participants repeatedly emphasized that the most helpful and transformative understandings of autism came from other autistic people. This reinforces the importance of centering lived experience, not only in research but also in media and public discourse.”

Dr. Carol Jasper, the primary supervisor of the study, added, “How autism is portrayed in the media matters. Moving beyond stereotypes and involving autistic people in creating content leads to richer, more accurate stories that educate the public, reduce stigma, support earlier diagnoses, and open up opportunities for autistic people.”