How Does Difficulty with Abstract Concepts Impact Emotional Regulation in Autism? 

Many autistic people prefer concrete, literal ways of thinking. While this thinking style brings precision and honesty, it can make emotions, which are abstract, invisible, and often hard to define, more difficult to recognise or manage. According to NHS guidance, autistic individuals often find it challenging to describe complex or mixed feelings such as disappointment, pride, or anxiety. This can make regulating emotions harder and lead to frustration or emotional overload. 

Why Abstract Thinking Affects Emotional Regulation 

Understanding emotions involves abstract reasoning, connecting sensations, thoughts, and social cues to internal feelings. For autistic people, abstract concepts can seem inconsistent or hard to translate into words. The National Autistic Society notes that this difference is closely linked to alexithymia, a difficulty identifying and articulating emotions. Without clear words or frameworks for feelings, emotions can build up without being recognised. 

Research by Kinnaird, Stewart and Tchanturia (2019), published in European Psychiatry, found that alexithymia is significantly more prevalent in autism and strongly predicts challenges in emotional awareness and regulation. The authors concluded that concrete thinking and reduced emotional abstraction make it harder for autistic people to manage emotional states effectively (ScienceDirect link). 

The Science Behind Abstract Reasoning and Emotion 

Emotional regulation depends on both cognitive and neurological factors. Neuroimaging work by Deshpande et al. (2012), published in Brain and Cognition, found that autistic children show different brain activation patterns in regions linked to theory of mind and empathy, both of which rely on abstract social-emotional understanding. The study demonstrated how these differences can make interpreting and regulating emotional states more difficult (PubMed link). 

More recently, Barker et al. (2019) examined autistic children and adolescents with varying levels of cognitive flexibility. They found that reduced abstract reasoning and executive function were closely tied to emotional dysregulation and stress-related behaviours, highlighting the importance of explicit teaching for emotion understanding (ResearchGate link). 

These findings confirm that challenges with abstraction, both cognitive and emotional, play a key role in how autistic individuals experience and express emotions. 

Evidence-Based Support 

Guidance from NICE for adults with autism (CG142) recognises that literal or concrete thinking can affect emotional self-awareness and coping. It recommends therapies such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and emotion-recognition training, which make abstract emotional concepts clearer and more teachable. 

The Autistica foundation adds that visual tools such as emotion cards, colour-coded charts, and social stories help autistic individuals connect feelings to concrete examples, improving both self-regulation and communication. 

Practical Ways to Support Emotional Understanding 

When emotional abstraction is difficult, it helps to make emotions visible and structured. Practical strategies include: 

• Visual emotion tools like emotion wheels or colour charts to label and describe feelings 

• Direct emotion teaching, breaking complex emotions into simple, stepwise parts 

• CBT and mindfulness, linking thoughts and sensations to emotion labels 

• Predictable routines and clear feedback, which reduce anxiety and emotional overload 

These approaches turn emotion regulation into a learnable skill rather than a guessing game. 

Takeaway 

Having difficulty with abstract concepts does not mean autistic people feel less. It means they experience emotions differently. When feelings are explained, visualised, and linked to clear language, emotional regulation becomes far more achievable. 

If you or your child is exploring signs of autism, you can arrange a private autism assessment online with Autism Detect. Their CQC-rated “Good” clinical team provides assessments for both adults and children, helping you find clarity and the right support for emotional wellbeing.