CAT-Q - Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire

1

When I am interacting with someone, I deliberately copy their body language or facial expressions

2

I monitor my body language or facial expressions so that I appear relaxed

3

I rarely feel the need to put on an act in order to get through a social situation

4

I have developed a script to follow in social situations (e.g., a list of questions or topics to talk about)

5

I will repeat phrases that I have heard others say in the exact same way that I first heard them

6

I adjust my body language or facial expressions so that I appear interested by the person I am interacting with

7

In social situations, I feel like I'm 'performing' rather than being myself

8

In my own home I often wear the same clothes, but I will change to different clothes when going out so that others don't notice

9

I always think about the impression I make on other people

10

I need the support of other people to socialize

11

I practice my facial expressions and body language to make sure they look natural

12

I don't feel the need to make eye contact with other people if I don't want to

13

I have to force myself to interact with people when I am in social situations

14

I have researched the rules of social interactions (e.g., by studying psychology or reading books on human behavior) to improve my own social skills

15

I am always aware of the impression I make on other people

16

I learn how people use their bodies and faces to interact by watching television or films, or by reading fiction

17

I can put on an act to make myself appear natural to other people

18

I try to stay close to people I know in social situations so that I can cope

19

In social interactions, I do not pay attention to what my face or body are doing

20

I am exhausted after socializing

21

I base my conversations on topics I have knowledge about and prepare beforehand

22

I have never tried to copy the way celebrities behave

23

When in social situations, I try to find ways to avoid interacting with others

24

When I am talking to someone, I feel as though the words I am using don't reflect what I am thinking

25

I feel like I have to pretend in order to maintain my relationships