About this episode

Dr. Theresa Regan discusses how brain development influences friendships and the challenges autistic individuals face with changing social dynamics during adolescence.

Dr. Theresa Regan explains how friendships evolve with brain development and why autistic individuals may struggle when social demands change—especially in middle school and high school—exploring theory of mind, social vs. non-social emotions, and shifting friendship expectations. The episode offers practical guidance on recognizing different friendship styles, reducing blame, and using curiosity and communication to build authentic connections. Understanding Autism Book Series Autism in the Adult website

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Theresa Regan

Topics covered

• friendship evolution
• brain development
• autism
• social demands
• middle school
• high school
• communication

Keywords

• autistic individuals
• friendship styles
• theory of mind
• social emotions
• non-social emotions
• curiosity
• communication

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Autism in the Adult podcast page.