Sep 7, 2026, 4:28 PMMy own personal observation (and I'll make generalizations that might trigger some): I think neurotypicals are more powerfully governed by pack-dynamics, similar to a pack of dogs, or wolves. They feel emotionally secure when they feel they are conforming with a group, such that they gain protection from "the tribe". They have an understandable need for emotional safety.
What confuses autistics is that this need for emotional safety usually trumps honesty, or ideals. Facts are only very selectively divulged by neurotypicals, conforming to a narrative of some sort, which eventuates in some personally gainful advantage (and it's less so about "the truth" as some sort of higher ideal). They - neurotypicals - have a fluidity in conforming to group expectations so as to fit into the group. A flexibility in changing roles, and reading the room. Even if the dynamics call for lowered morality. Conformance is more important than morality, I've observed. This conformance has its rewards: more money, more opportunities, more access to mates, more biological success - propagation of their genes. They are understandably doing exactly what their genes would have them do. Genes care nothing about morality at the end of the day; only biological success.
Autistics have one set of ideals that they more inflexibly cling to. Honesty is the best policy for an Autistic, owing to reduced theory of mind, and reduced flexibility when it comes to switching roles, and reading the room.
In contrast, honesty *isn't* the best policy, when it's biological success that neurotypicals are actually optimizing for.