Final answer:
The rocking, flapping of fingers or hands, or idiosyncratic movements of an individual, such as flapping a piece of string, are examples of stereotypic behaviors, which differ from kinesis and taxis, the latter being survival movements observed in animals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rocking, flapping of fingers or hands, or idiosyncratic movements of an individual, such as flapping a piece of string, are examples of stereotypic behaviors. These are repetitive, unvarying, and seemingly purposeless movements that are common in some individuals with developmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder.
These movements are different from the movement behavior in animals known as kinesis or taxis, which are directed or undirected movements in response to stimuli.
While stereotypic behaviors are characteristic of some human disorders, kinesis and taxis are responses observed in organisms such as woodlice and bacteria to increase their chance of survival in their environment.