Gricean maxims

A set of principles proposed by philosopher Paul Grice that describe the implicit rules governing cooperative conversation: quantity (be informative but not over-informative), quality (be truthful), relation (be relevant), and manner (be clear and orderly). Gricean maxims are central to understanding cross-neurotype communication differences because neurotypical speakers regularly violate these maxims for social purposes — using sarcasm, understatement, or vague language — and expect listeners to infer the intended meaning. Autistic individuals who follow these maxims more literally may communicate in ways that are genuinely cooperative but perceived as blunt or overly direct by neurotypical standards.