Stereotypy (psychiatry)

A stereotypy is a continuous, repetitive, purposeless or ritualistic movement, posture, or utterance, found in patients with mental retardation, autism spectrum disorders, tardive dyskinesia, and stereotypic movement disorder.(PMID 11530424)

Stereotypies may be simple movements such as body rocking, or complex, such as self-caressing, crossing and uncrossing of legs, and marching in place.(PMID 11530424)

Some professionals who evaluate children with autism refer to stereotypies as stimming, based on the notion that that the role of stereotypies is self-stimulation. (PMID 11530449)