Πραγματικά ενδιαφέρουσα η ετυμολογία.
Είχα πάντως την εντύπωση ότι, πρακτικά, όταν χρησιμοποιείται σε σχέση με τον αυτισμό - και το σύνδρομο Asperger - σημαίνει μάλλον την ανικανότητα
αναγνώρισης του συναισθήματος.
Difficulties in relationships
Two potentially disruptive traits sometimes found in the profile of Asperger's syndrome individuals are mind-blindness (the inability to predict the beliefs and intentions of others) and alexithymia (
the inability to identify and interpret emotional signals in oneself or others), which traits both impose a reduction in the ability to be empathetically attuned to others. Alexithymia in Asperger's syndrome, it must be noted, is in no way a result of mind-blindness but functions as an independent variable relying on different neural networks than those implicated in Theory of Mind. In fact, lack of Theory of Mind in Asperger's syndrome may be a result of a lack of information available to the mind due to the operation of the alexithymic deficit.
A second issue related to alexithymia involves the
inability to identify and therewith modulate strong emotions such as sadness or anger, which leaves the individual prone to “sudden affective outbursts such as crying or rage” According to Tony Attwood, the inability to express feelings using words may also predispose the individual to use physical acts to articulate the mood and release the emotional energy.
http://www.autism-help.org/aspergers-interpersonal-relationships.htm
Alexithymia glossary (στα Αγγλικά):
http://alex-glossary.blogspot.com/
