自閉症類群認知固著行為及其印記現象之探究

Cognitive Stereotype Behaviors and their Imprinting on the Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

本研究主要探討自閉症類群行為表現中與認知有關之固著行為（本研究稱為認知固著行為）的特質與形成機制，及以印記現象解釋認知固著行為的合理性，以自編問卷施測，在排除未描述認知固著行為的樣本後取得271位自閉症類群樣本資料，同時進行量性及質性資料分析，結果發現：（1）自閉症者第一次出現認知固著行為最多的是在3歲時，且有一半以上的自閉症者是在四歲以前出現；第一次出現認知固著行為年齡平均為6.10歲，平均每次固著行為堅持或僵化31.71分鐘，一次持續最長時間平均長358.35分鐘；（2）認知固著行為表現的面向可歸納為思想、行為、生活、學習四個領域共26類，並依其印記表現分為突發性認知固著行為及習慣性認知固著行為；（3）對於認知固著行為，多數自閉症者認為知道不必要但無法控制；約三分之一是一開始就很明顯或突然出現，且第一次出現或阻止其認知固著行為多有強烈的情緒及行為反應；（4）填寫者是否為自閉症本人，為覺知認知固著行為嚴重程度、困擾程度、及第一次出現認知固著行為感受反應激烈程度的共同關聯因素。本研究結論「印記」可以合理解釋自閉症者認知固著行為形成的現象。最後並提出相關建議，以引導自閉症者及其家人發展認知固著行為的處理策略。

This research explored the characteristics and formation mechanisms of stereotype behaviors related to cognition (this research names it cognitive stereotype behavior; CSB), as well as the rationality of explaining CSB with imprinting phenomenon for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). After excluding the samples without CSB, the data that came from 271 ASD were collected and analyzed with both quantitative and qualitative methods. This research discovered that: (1) The first occurrence of CSB in the ASD was mostly at the age of three and more than half of them showed CSB before the age of four. The average age of their first occurrence of CSB was 6.10 years old. The CSB persisted or became rigid for 31.71 minutes on average each time. The longest duration was 358.35 minutes (5.97 hours). (2) The aspects of CSB could be classified into 26 categories in four areas: thought, behavior, life, and learning. They could also be categorized into the sudden CSB or the habitual CSB by imprinting performance. (3) Most of the ASD commented that their CSBs were not necessary but they could not control them well. One-third of them showed CSB suddenly and the first occurrence was accompanied by a strong emotional or behavioral response. (4) Whether the respondent is an ASD himself/herself or not was critical to the awareness of severity, the degree of distress, and the emotional /behavioral intensity when CSB first occurred. This study concluded that imprinting could reasonably explain the formation of CSB in autistic people. Finally, relevant suggestions are put forward to guide autistic people and their families to develop coping strategies for CSB.