Gestures are movements that accompany communication, such as nodding, using the hands or changing posture to emphasise a point. Blunted affect may involve fewer spontaneous gestures or a narrower range of expressive movement. Conversation can…Continue Reading
Internal emotional experience is what a person feels, as distinct from what observers can see or hear. Research and clinical accounts show that reduced expression does not necessarily mean a complete absence of emotion. Someone…Continue Reading
Reduced emotional expression includes less facial movement, fewer expressive gestures and a voice with limited variation. It is often called blunted affect. The visible expression of emotion and the internal experience of emotion are separate…Continue Reading
Blunted affect can create communication difficulties because other people use expression to judge interest, emotion and intention. A neutral face or flat voice may be misread as indifference, dislike or unwillingness to participate. The person…Continue Reading
Primary negative symptoms are understood as part of the underlying disorder rather than consequences of another identifiable problem. Secondary negative symptoms resemble them but arise through factors such as depression, ongoing paranoia, sedation or movement-related…Continue Reading
Attention is the ability to select relevant information and maintain focus while managing distraction. Difficulties may make it hard to follow a conversation, read a page or complete a task in a busy environment. Attention…Continue Reading
Initiation is the step between intending to do something and beginning it. A person with avolition may know that washing, shopping or contacting a friend matters but remain unable to get started. The obstacle can…Continue Reading
Working memory holds and manipulates information for a short period. It allows someone to remember an instruction while carrying it out, follow the beginning of a sentence while hearing its end or compare options during…Continue Reading
Sustaining effort means continuing an activity long enough to achieve a goal. With avolition, someone may start cleaning, studying or exercising but stop after a short period despite intending to continue. This is different from…Continue Reading
Processing speed is the rate at which someone can take in information and produce an appropriate response. Slower processing may create a noticeable delay in answering questions, reading instructions or completing routine tasks. It does…Continue Reading