Which term best describes a lack of emotional expression, commonly listed as a negative symptom in schizophrenia?

• A. Flat affect
• B. Anhedonia
• C. Apathy
• D. Dysphoria

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is distinguishing how emotion is expressed outwardly versus how a person feels internally. Flat affect specifically refers to a diminished or absent outward display of emotion—facial expressions, tone of voice, and other nonverbal cues are flat or unvarying. This outward blunting is a negative symptom often seen in schizophrenia, meaning it reflects a deficit in normal emotional expression rather than a heightened or unusual emotional experience.

Anhedonia describes a reduced ability to experience pleasure, which is about internal experience rather than outward expression. Apathy refers to a lack of motivation or initiative, not the facial or vocal display of emotion. Dysphoria means a generally uncomfortable or unhappy mood, which is about subjective mood rather than the lack of expressive affect. Flat affect uniquely captures the idea of diminished emotional expression.