Cognitive empathy, then, is a concurrently occurring, multiple-perspective awareness. Neurotypical kids aren’t super at it—but do grow into it naturally. We don’t. Ever. We either don’t notice or don’t understand the thoughts we make others think about us—in fact, we have to learn even to consider that others may have reactions distinct from ours. That what is “obvious” to us isn’t a given for everyone. For us, “remembering to look both ways” does not come naturally. It takes conscious effort. Always. It accumulates slowly, one situation at a time, day upon day, year upon year, and
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