New research from York University suggests that people with autism are less susceptible to the bystander effect in the workplace compared to neurotypical individuals. The bystander effect is a psychological phenomenon where people are less likely to intervene in bad situations when others are present. The study found that individuals with autism were more likely to speak up and intervene in situations of misconduct or mistakes, regardless of the number of people present. These findings suggest that organizations could benefit from hiring more neurodivergent individuals. Lead author Lorne Hartman, along with his son Braxton Hartman, who has autism, were inspired to conduct this research to challenge the deficit mindset often associated with autism. The study, published in Autism Research, involved 33 individuals with autism and 34 neurotypical individuals. The researchers highlight the importance of whistleblowers in organizations and the need to change societal understanding of autism to improve employment opportunities for individuals on the spectrum.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231026131628.htm