Expert: Trey McGowan - 10/2/2009

Question
Dear Trey, I am taking a class in Early Childhood Play and Development. While writing an article summary I noticed some ambiguity in the term "stereotypical behavior". I need to fully understand the term. I found this definition. http://www.answers.com/topic/stereotype I sense that it has nothing to do with a set of children doing the same kinds of things. this is my question. Is it more like the synapses in the brain get stuck in and repeating the same impulse? Similar to a CD that skips and plays the same part of the song again and again? Your thoughts are greatly appreciated. Eve

Answer
Hi there, Eve!

The dictionary term of 'stereotype', as you have pointed out, is a great difference from the one people talk about when they are talking about the 'stereotypical behaviours' of autistic children, often known as a 'stereotypy' (plural 'stereotypies').

The closest definition, if one is going by the dictionary, is the following one:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/stereotype

In addition, the term 'stereotypy', related to the above, is listed here:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/stereotypy

As you can see, the definition is very similar to the common English usage. However, the portion of 'to repeat without variation' is the portion that is intended when they say an autistic has 'stereotypical behaviour'. Not that it is a 'stereotype' of autism (although many of the common stereotypical movements *have* become stereotypes in that way), but that the motion is 'repeated without variation'.

Now, I think part of the question is also trying to understand the exact reason *why* the motions are being done in that way. In this case, if you will excuse me for speaking from a more personal standpoint rather than a medical one (I'm not a doctor), it is because for whatever reason, a specific movement or series of movements have given them a physical or mental stimulation that they find balancing. The movements are repeated without variation because variations, even small ones, are not as satisfying, and can feel extremely distressing to them. As you say, it is rather like the synapses firing in the exact same way in the exact same time, thus becoming the exact same rhythm or order. Because of the autistic mind, it is not so much that they literally could not stop if they tried, but that it is extremely painful and stressful for them to stop, if it is strong enough.

Many of these stereotypies are physical ones: rocking, foot tapping, hand flapping or twirling, hair tugging, scratching, toe-walking, et cetera. Most of these are because of a lack, or exaggerated, physical sensation which they are trying to control. Others may be near-ritualized series of movements or postures, such as dressing a specific way in a specific manner every time, saying the exact same series of words in relation to a specific trigger, or eating a specific dish in a specific manner. These are usually more related to a sense of control in what is often seen as an uncontrolled or uncontrollable world.

Thee are some stereotypies which are genuinely uncontrollable, and would take a great deal of intervention to stop, if they could be stopped at all. Many of these are the more physical ones, and have often been likened to, and even linked with, tic disorders such as as Tourettes. Which, for the record, is usually much more mild than extreme cases seen televised. A slight beef about the bad publicity that syndrome gets, there. ;)

Hopefully, that has helped give you a little more information on both the full definition for it, as well as a better look into the 'whys' and 'hows' of stereotypical behaviours. If you have further questions, comments, feedback, or follow-ups, feel free to let me know!

Trey