In contrast to mainstream accounts which explain the aesthetic experience of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in terms of cognitive abilities, this paper suggests as an alternative explanation the “emotional abilities approach”. We present an example of a person with ASD who is able to exercise a variety of emotional abilities in aesthetic contexts but who has difficulties exhibiting their equivalents in interpersonal relations. Using an autobiographical account, we demonstrate first that there is at least one precedent where a person with ASD can exercise a series of emotional abilities when engaging with art works. Second, we offer also an explanation about why aesthetic contexts might enable this person to exercise emotional abilities which in interpersonal contexts seem to be blocked.

与用认知能力来解释自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）患者的审美体验的主流观点相反，本文提出了“情感能力方法”作为替代解释。我们举了一个患有自闭症谱系障碍的人的例子，他能够在审美环境中锻炼各种情感能力，但在人际关系中却很难表现出相应的能力。使用自传体叙述，我们首先证明至少有一个先例，患有自闭症谱系障碍的人在接触艺术作品时可以锻炼一系列情感能力。其次，我们还解释了为什么审美环境可能使这个人能够锻炼情感能力，而这种能力在人际环境中似乎受到阻碍。