Decoding Emotion: A Pattern-Based Guide for Autistic People offers a new approach to understanding and navigating the complex world of human emotions. Written for autistic people by an autistic person, this guide presents emotions as recognizable patterns, providing clear frameworks and practical tools for emotional awareness and expression. Author Cort Craven draws from extensive research to create an accessible emotional atlas, mapping 72 distinct emotions across six core families. The guide moves from foundational feelings to nuanced emotional experiences, offering detailed insights into how emotions manifest physically, behaviorally, and internally. Each emotion is explored with careful attention to how it uniquely presents in autistic experiences, acknowledging diverse ways of processing and expressing feelings.
What sets this guide apart is its practical, pattern-based approach. Rather than presenting emotions as abstract concepts, the book offers concrete tools for recognition and understanding, including:
Detailed physical and behavioral markers for each emotion
Clear escalation and de-escalation pathways with real life examples
Practical strategies for emotional regulation
Adaptable communication tools
Customizable tracking systems
Worksheets and resources
Whether you're seeking to better understand your own emotional landscape or support someone on their journey of emotional awareness, this guide provides essential insights into the unique ways autistic people experience and process emotions. Written with deep respect for neurodiverse perspectives, this book celebrates the diversity of emotional expression while offering practical pathways toward enhanced self-understanding and authentic connection.