REVISED DRAFT LIST OF POTENTIAL MONOTROPISM QUESTIONNAIRE (MQ) RESEARCH TOPICS.

Introduction.

For those who only experience monotropic cognitive style, monotropism is everything.  it’s woven into every aspect of life. It’s who you are, your whole state of being; the way you think, process, respond, perceive sensory input, interact with people and your environment.

The Monotropism Questionnaire (MQ), is a self-report tool designed to assess for features indicating monotropic cognitive style. Which is based on an Interest Based Account of Autism, and it has been argued to be a Unified Theory of Autism. Please see here for further information on monotropism theory, research, and practice.

The present MQ items are informed by this Monotropism model to explain “Pathological Demand-Avoidance” in autistic persons, there is debate if the anxiety-based items should be removed from the tool, because how autism is often defined in clinical practice, anxiety is not a core feature of autism, or a universal experience amongst autistics, and generally due to how autistics are being present, or previously situations. We know that autistics are systemically poorly treated by broader society and culture. Causing many autistics to become an Academic, Activist, or Advocate.

This document is to encourage feedback and further revisions of a draft list of potential research topics for the MQ. This list is intended to only be used to guide researchers until research is conducted to indicate Autistics’ preferences on the matter.

Below is the revised draft list of potential research topics, which can be completed by adult participants for the Monotropism Questionnaire (MQ). The development of an observer rated version for use by adults, like caregivers, might best be waited for until refinement of the present MQ. There should be a separate list of potential research topics for investigating Monotropism in children and young persons. The research topics are grouped by category, for ease of reference. I accept that some placements are arbitrary.

Monotropism in relation to other cognitive constructs.

1)     Aphantasia.

2)     Autistic Variable Attention (AuDHD).

3)     Executive Functioning

4)     Flexibility in autism.

5)   Flow, such as with Flow State Scale-2 and Dispositional Flow Scale-2.

6)     Hyperfocus.

7)     Intelligence, such as with Raven’s Progressive Matrices (RPM).

8)     Mania, such as part of Bipolar Disorder.

9)     Personality types.

10)     Predictive coding/ Free energy.

11)  Theory of Mind

12)  Weak Central Coherence.

Monotropism in relation to other mental health constructs.

1)         Anxiety.

2)     Anxiety disorders, e.g., Social Anxiety (social phobia).

3)     Co-ordination issues, e.g., Dyspraxia.

4)     Depression

5)     Eating disorders, e.g., Anorexia.

6)     Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Related Disorders, e.g., Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

7)     Other co-occurring issues.

8)     “Pathological Demand-Avoidance” (PDA)/ “Rational Demand-Avoidance” (RDA).

9)     Personality Disorders, e.g., Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

10)  Psychosis, e.g., schizophrenia.

11)  Sensory issues, such as, Misophonia, or Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).

12)  Suicidal ideation.

13)  Trauma, e.g., Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

14)  Variable attention/ Autistic Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Monotropism in relation to other socio-behavioural

1)     Autistic burnout.

2)     Aversive life experiences, e.g., with Vulnerability Experiences Quotient (VEQ)

3)     Camouflaging/ masking.

4)     Double Empathy Problem.

5)     Stalking behaviours.

6)         Stigma.

Practical applications of Monotropism.

1)     Autistic monotropic cognition prevalence in the Criminal Justice System.

2)     Autistic persons MQ research preferences.

3)     Caregiving support ideas / communication strategies / therapy approaches.

4)     Communication: how Monotropic cognitive style affects communication development, such as post trauma, maintenance / style / interactions - dividing attention 1:1 / group / objects 3-way interaction etc

5)     Education- Teaching strategies, transitions, subjects and day structure.

6)     Friendships.

7)     How interests impact learning.

8)     Minority stress.

9)     Non-benign/ positive passionate interests.

10)  Offending behaviours.

11)  Positive benefits - knowledge / skills.

12)  Potential trauma from reinforcement-based approaches, such as Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)/ Positive Behaviour Support (PBS).

13)  Romantic relationships.

14)  Rumination, particularly latching onto intrusive thoughts etc.

15)  Transactional Stress

Work on developing the MQ itself.

1)     Autism assessment tools e.g., Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)/ Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO).

2)     Easy read-picture based version for minimally speaking and/ or persons with Intellectual Disability.

3)     Full Autism Quotient.

4)     How representative is present MQ items with Autistics from constituent groups of the Global Majority, such as Autistic native indigenous people, Autistic Asian people Autistic combined heritage people etc (Others may wish to add other identities to this, or use different terminology).

5)     How representative is present MQ items with Less anxious-non-anxious Autistics.

6)         Test-retest reliability of MQ.

Feedback.

Please provide feedback on this list, from other potential research topics, alternative terms to the above suggested research topics, research topic placing within categories. Feedback should be provided in writing to Richard Woods at: richardwoodsautism@gmail.com 

Acknowledgements.

Richard Woods thanks the following for their assistance, or feedback on the draft list potential research topics for the MQ: Hanna Bertilsdotter Rosqvist, Nick Chown, Helen Edgar, Sue Fletcher-Watson, Panda Merry, Yasmeen Multani, Fergus Murray, Susy Ridout, Kes Ward, and anyone I may have accidentally forgotten to mention.

Conflict of Interest Statement.

Richard Woods is a co-author of the Monotropism Questionnaire and could potentially benefit from the MQ being used in future research derived from topics on this list.