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Sex Differences in ASD on Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors and Interests

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Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Definition(s)

Restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests (RRBI) is a symptom cluster of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which include stereotyped or repetitive behaviors, sameness behaviors, restricted interests, self-injurious behaviors, and sensory processing differences (American Psychiatric Association 2013). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition defines these items as follows:

  • Stereotyped and repetitive behaviors are behaviors that happen over and over again in an exact way (e.g., playing with the same toy in the same way, abnormal or excessive repetition of the same speech) or unusual motor movements such as hand-flapping or body rocking.

  • Sameness behaviors are the insistence to perform actions in the same way including insistence on routines, anxiety surrounding changes in plans, and resulting difficulties with changes in schedules.

  • Restricted interests are interests, hobbies, or preoccupations that are unusual in their intensity and in...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA

    Tyler McFayden

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  1. Tyler McFayden
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Correspondence to Tyler McFayden .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, CT, USA

    Fred R. Volkmar

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McFayden, T. (2020). Sex Differences in ASD on Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors and Interests. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_102402-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_102402-1

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