Can a psychopath have alexithymia?

Both psychopathy and ASD have previously been associated with elevated levels of alexithymia (Louth et al., 1998; Lander et al., 2012; Bird and Cook, 2013), and we also observed modest correlations between psychopathic and ASD traits with alexithymia in the present study.

What is the difference between alexithymia and a sociopath?

The prototypic person with alexithymia, however, is anxious, overcontrolled, submissive, boring, ethically consistent, and socially conforming, whereas the prototypic individual with psychopathy is anxiety-free, undercontrolled, dominant, charming, deceitful, and nonconforming.

Can normal people have alexithymia?

Alexithymia is a broad term to describe problems with feeling emotions. In fact, this Greek term used in Freudian psychodynamic theories loosely translates to “no words for emotion.” While the condition is not well-known, it’s estimated that 1 in 10 people has it.

Do narcissists have alexithymia?

Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by grandiosity, self-admiration needs, and empathy deficits (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). An emerging body of work suggests that narcissism is particularly associated with an alexithymia subtype (i.e., difficulties identifying feelings).

What is a narcissistic alexithymia?

Concept description. In his New York Times column of 11 October 2016, David Brooks wrote that “Trump continues to display the symptoms of narcissistic alexithymia, the inability to understand or describe the emotions in the self. Unable to know themselves, sufferers are unable to understand, relate or attach to others. …

Is alexithymia same as psychopathy?

The prototypical person with alexithymia (i.e., traits that stand out) is anxious, overcontrolled, submissive, boring, ethically consistent, and socially conforming, whereas the prototypical individual with psychopathy is anxiety-free, undercontrolled, dominant, charming, deceitful, and nonconforming.

Can you be born with alexithymia?

Trait alexithymia may be, ‘inborn,’ or caused by events that happen in a person’s early childhood such as neglect or abuse from a primary caregiver.

What do you call someone with alexithymia?

Nonmedical terms describing similar conditions include emotionless and impassive. People with the condition are called alexithymics or alexithymiacs.

Does alexithymia affect everyone?

In fact, studies show that it only affects a small percentage. People who do have alexithymia may describe themselves as having difficulties with expressing emotions that are deemed socially appropriate, such as happiness on a joyous occasion. Others may furthermore have trouble identifying their emotions.

What are the symptoms of alexithymia in social contexts?

However, a person with alexithymia might personally experience the following in social contexts: 1 anger 2 confusion 3 difficulty “reading faces” 4 discomfort 5 emptiness 6 increased heart rate 7 lack of affection 8 panic

How is alexithymia diagnosed and treated?

Another possible test is an MRI performed by a neurologist. This will provide images of the insula in the brain. There’s no one single test for alexithymia, much like neurological disorders and mental illnesses in general. It can take time to receive the right diagnosis. To date, there isn’t a single individual treatment for alexithymia.

What percentage of people with depression have alexithymia?

Research indicates that between 32 and 51 percent of people with depressive disorders also have alexithymia. Additionally, this condition has been noted in people who have experienced trauma, especially during early childhood.