Is it true that alexithymics have no emotions?
No. Alexithymics do have emotions. Much of the time they are either unaware of the physiological expression of emotions in the body (such as blushing or elevated pulse) or do not understand their emotional significance. When the cause and nature of the emotion is obvious, alexithymics have full-blown emotions like anyone else. Strong emotions tend to take them by surprise and they may not be able to limit their expression very well. Alexithymics are prone to chronic anxiety. This is partly due to a failure to label their emotions properly. Even in non-alexithymics, emotions that are not properly identified or understood are experienced psychologically as undifferentiated anxiety; this situation occurs much more frequently in alexithymics. Furthermore the inability to make quick decisions on the basis of gut feeling tends to create considerable angst about personal choices. Depression is also common in alexithymics. Alexithymics typically experience troublesome complications in life, wh
Not exactly. For one thing, this is not a simple question. There are several common definitions of “emotion”, and each gives a different answer. Many neuroscientists define emotions as specifc types of physiological responses. Alexithymics do exhibit this kind of reaction, though they are typically unaware of doing so. (Some studies have shown that alexithymics react more than normal subjects; others have found the opposite.) According to the physiological definition of emotion, alexithymic people have emotions like anyone else, but fail to recognize them or understand their emotional significance. Some cognitive psychologists and philosophers maintain that emotions are special kinds of attitudes or thoughts, distinguished by an immediate concern for personal welfare. Alexithymic people are capable of having these thoughts, though they are not likely to dwell on them or prioritize them.
