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Monotropism: Understanding Autistic Attention

Autistic attention does not drift lightly across the surface of the world, it often dives in deeply and is driven by whatever catches our attention, affecting how people perceive, communicate, socialise, learn and regulate. Imagine the difference between snorkelling and scuba diving. One might go snorkelling in shallow waters, offering a clear view of the diverse range of marine life in the water. Scuba diving, in the same water, takes you far deeper and requires extra caution with returning to the surface. Both divers are in the water, but the scuba diver is going deeper and needs time and practice to return safely to the surface. Autistic attention is like that of a scuba diver; we swim deep into the water and need time and intentional practice to return safely to the surface. Monotropism (Murray et al, 2005), is a theory that resonates with many Autistic and ADHD people and explains how Autistic people tend toward deep, immersive, narrow focus. When an Autistic person is absorbed in something, their whole Self is oriented toward it; emotionally, cognitively, sensorily and physically. This is why transitions can be particularly challenging and why sudden demands or unexpected events often feel like collisions. It’s why a child playing with Lego may not hear their name called or why people can lose hours in a special interest and emerge both exhilarated and disoriented.

Monotropism is the engine behind Autistic creativity, precision, and passion, but it also means that environments filled with rapid shifts, competing stimuli, and unpredictable demands can be overwhelming to the point of shutting down the nervous system, leaving people in a state of inertia where they can not start or stop an activity or utterly overwhelmed. When families understand the theory of monotropism and adapt to meet a person’s monotropic ways of being, everyday life can become a bit easier, smoother and more manageable. You can support your family member to navigate and flow through their attention tunnels, making routines more predictable. Gaining an understanding that what sometimes appears as “rigidity” can be reinterpreted as a form of attentional safety for an Autistic person.