First impressions of adults with autism improve with diagnostic disclosure and increased autism knowledge of peers

In a rating study, observers thought better of autistic adults when told the diagnosis, and better still if they knew about autism.

Sasson, N. J. & Morrison, K. E. (2019). First impressions of adults with autism improve with diagnostic disclosure and increased autism knowledge of peers. Autism, 23(1), 50–59.

Type

Journal article

Find it

doi.org/10.1177/1362361317729526

Checked

Against the abstract, 15 September 2026

Why it is on the list

Observers watching short videos rated autistic adults more positively when the diagnosis was accurately given than when it was withheld or wrong, and raters who knew more about autism rated them more favourably. These are observers rating strangers. Week 10 reads the result alongside accounts from people deciding whether to disclose.