Alexithymia
| Alexithymia | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Emotional blindness |
| Pronunciation |
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| Specialty | Clinical psychology, psychiatry |
| Frequency | 10% (lifetime risk) |
Alexithymia, also called emotional blindness, is a neuropsychological phenomenon characterized by significant challenges in recognizing, expressing, feeling, sourcing, and describing one's emotions. It is associated with difficulties in attachment and interpersonal relations. There is no scientific consensus on its classification as a personality trait, medical symptom, or mental disorder.
Alexithymia occurs in approximately 10% of the population and often co-occurs with various mental or neurodevelopmental disorders. It is present in 50% to 85% of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Difficulty in recognizing and discussing emotions may manifest at subclinical levels in men who conform to specific cultural norms of masculinity, such as the belief that sadness is a feminine emotion. This condition, known as normative male alexithymia, can be present regardless of sex.