Alexithymia and Emotional Response Intensity Based on the Perceived Reality of Shocking Videos

Alexithymia is the inability or diminished ability to understand and express emotions or feelings in the self and/or of others. This paper addressed the relationship between alexithymia and emotional intensity in response to the perceived reality of information (a video) presented. Students were tested for degree of alexithymia and subsequently divided into one of two groups. Students were shown a disturbing but staged (false) video filmed in a documentary style designed to be perceived as depicting a real event. Half were told it was not real prior to viewing, while the other half were told it was not real immediately after viewing. All groups then responded to a brief survey. Correlations between emotional intensity and levels of alexithymia were performed.