Masking, which is also called camouflaging or compensating, is a social survival strategy. How it looks will vary from person to person, but masking can include behaviors like these:
- forcing or faking eye contact during conversations
- imitating smiles and other facial expressions
- mimicking gestures
- hiding or minimizing personal interests
- developing a repertoire of rehearsed responses to questions
- scripting conversations
- disguising stimming behaviors (hiding a jiggling foot or trading a preferred movement for one that’s less obvious)
People may mask autism for a variety of reasons, such as:
- feeling safe and avoiding stigma
- avoiding mistreatment or bullying
- succeeding at work
- attracting a romantic partner
- making friends and other social connections
- fitting in or feeling a sense of belonging
