The Psychology Behind Masking in Autism & Neurodivergence

 

Masking is a social behavioural tool sometimes utilized by individuals with autism, ADHD, and other mental disorders in order to appear neurotypical or “normal”. It involves publicly covering or adjusting behaviour or mannerisms that may be seen as odd or different, either consciously or subconsciously, to meet neurotypical social expectations.

Although masking can help someone navigate social situations, constantly feeling as though you have to hide parts of yourself can come as a significant burden, manifesting in physical and psychological challenges.

Why do people mask?

At the heart of masking is often a desire for social belonging and acceptance. Humans are inherently social creatures, which can challenge neurotypical individuals who often feel that typical social expectations can feel foreign.

One reason masking can develop is social learning. Humans naturally observe and imitate others, and we learn social norms through feedback from the people around us. For autistic individuals, however, some of these social expectations may not come naturally. Instead, they may have to consciously analyze and practice behaviours that other people perform automatically. This doesn’t mean autistic people are being dishonest. In many cases, masking is a strategy for avoiding rejection, bullying, misunderstanding, or discrimination.

When someone feels their natural behaviour might lead to rejection, they adapt to reduce that risk. Psychologically, masking can therefore function as a form of self-protection. In the short term, it may be effective. Masking might help someone make friends, navigate school, succeed at work, or avoid uncomfortable attention. The problem is that maintaining a mask requires ongoing mental effort. Instead of simply participating in a conversation, someone may simultaneously be thinking: Am I making enough eye contact? Am I talking too much? Is my facial expression appropriate? Did I interrupt? What should I say next?

 

I. Behavioural Landmarks

1. Mirroring others’ behaviour, appearance, facial expressions and speech
2. Suppressing, stopping, or altering your stimming to more acceptable public acts
3. Forcing eye contact with others
4. ‘Scripting’: pre-planning or rehearsing what to say to another\
5. Hiding sensory discomfort

 

II. How Common is Masking?

The truth is – we don’t definitively know. Research on masking is limited and typically doesn’t focus on how common it is. Furthermore, the nature of masking can make it difficult to measure – how do you naturally measure an observable behaviour that’s being deployed to mask a different disposition?

What’s important is its recognition – sometimes psychology moves faster than research can! Most significantly, the term masking is recognized by the National Autistic Society and is widely observed and reported as a coping strategy for neurotypical individuals.

One reason masking can develop is social learning. Humans naturally observe and imitate others, and we learn social norms through feedback from the people around us. For autistic individuals, however, some of these social expectations may not come naturally. Instead, they may have to consciously analyze and practice behaviours that other people perform automatically. This doesn’t mean autistic people are being dishonest. In many cases, masking is a strategy for avoiding rejection, bullying, misunderstanding, or discrimination.

 

III. The Psychological Cost of Masking

Research has increasingly connected masking and camouflaging with negative psychological outcomes, particularly among autistic people. Constantly monitoring and suppressing one’s natural responses can contribute to stress, anxiety, exhaustion, and reduced sense of authenticity and identity.

One important concept here is cognitive load. Our attention and mental resources are limited. When a significant amount of that capacity is devoted to monitoring our behaviour, less is available to engage with the environment around us. This can help explain why someone might appear perfectly fine during a social event but feel completely exhausted afterward.

For some people, prolonged masking can also contribute to what is commonly described as autistic burnout: a state involving significant exhaustion, reduced functioning, and difficulty coping with everyday demands. Masking can also make it harder for others to recognize when someone needs support. If a person becomes skilled at hiding their difficulties, teachers, employers, friends, or even healthcare professionals may see only the outward presentation, not the effort required to maintain it.

 

Moving Beyond the Mask

Understanding masking doesn’t mean that adapting our behaviour is always harmful. In fact, it’s essential to adjust how we behave depending on the situation. Think about how differently you act with friends compared to a job interview. For the latter, it’s crucial to maintain a professional and perhaps less authentic front. The important distinction is choice.

There is a difference between choosing to adapt your behaviour because it feels appropriate and feeling that you must constantly suppress who you are to be accepted. We recognize that, while it would be ideal, changing every environment to be more inclusive is outside our control. Instead, we can foster a more authentic disposition by finding comfortable, inclusive spaces to practice taking our mask off.

 

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Glossary

For more from us, see our Therapy Deconstructed series, which breaks down therapy into small, digestible pieces.

 

1. Therapy Deconstructed: What is Psychotherapy?
2. Therapy Deconstructed: When is it Time?
3. Therapy Deconstructed: Fears and Barriers to Therapy
4. Therapy Deconstructed: Finding the Right Therapist
5. Therapy Deconstructed: Facing Therapy Fears and Anxieties