What is the Meaning of Repetitive Behavior?
It is unknown exactly why a person with autism engages in repetitive behavior. However, some theories suggest that the behavior is a type of response to a sensation or experience. For instance, a person with autism may rock back and forth when distressed in order to calm himself. Another affected person might flap his hands when he is excited about a favorite subject such as sports trivia. Other theories propose that repetitive behaviors may be related to how a person with autism processes information. For example, a person with autism might flip her fingers repetitively in front of her eyes as she listens to music. These theories lead to the question of whether or not the repetitive behavior is a form of communication. The repetitive gestures could be viewed as messages.
Related Questions
- Is it appropriate to "follow a child’s lead" if he/she only engages in rigid, repetitive, or self-stimulatory play behavior?
- How do "smart habits, i.e. effective repetitive interlocked patterns of behavior" lead to the "extinction effect?
- Why do children with severe autism exhibit such odd, repetitive behavior?
