Investigating Emotional Blindness

A Conference on Alexithymia on November 8-9, 2010 at the Freie Universität

The causes of the personality trait known as "emotional blindness," or alexithymia, are the focus of an international conference scheduled to take place at the Freie Universität Berlin on November 8-9, 2010. In attendance will be 15 of the most distinguished researchers in this field from Germany and abroad. The "Berlin Alexithymia Conference 2010" is being organized by the Alexithymia Research Group of the Excellence Cluster "Languages of Emotion" at the Freie Universität Berlin.

Alexithymia is widespread: according to a study undertaken by the universities of Leipzig and Düsseldorf, 10% of the German population is highly alexithymic. For individuals with mental health disturbances, the statistic is one in four. Alexithymia sufferers experience considerable difficulty articulating their emotional states. As a consequence, other emotional competencies – such as the ability to interpret the emotions of others and to respond appropriately – may be less developed as well. Alexithymia is not an illness, but a personality trait which can – if sufficiently pronounced – cause severe suffering to those affected.

The causes are manifold, and while genetic factors seem to be implicated, alexithymia may also stem from being raised in an emotionally deprived family or in an excessively regimented fashion, or from a traumatic experience. For this reason, new approaches to research will be discussed at the conference collectively by physicians, neuroscientists, psychologists, and psychotherapists.

Alexithymia research is a key focus of the Cluster "Languages of Emotion" because it is vitally important beyond its promise for improving the lives of those affected. In fact, a better understanding of this disturbance – in whose context bodily and psychic factors are so intimately interrelated – would contribute substantially to our knowledge of human emotions in general.

At the center of the conference program is the interplay between precipitating factors and areas that may be affected by alexithymia, among them facial expression and gesture, sensitivity to pain, and the capacity for empathy. Studies involving magnetic resonance imaging provide us with insights into the processing of emotions in the human brain. Also presenting the results of their research projects will be researchers from the Cluster.

Location and dates:

• The Berlin Alexithymia Conference 2010, Seminarzentrum of the Freie Universität Berlin
Otto-von-Simson-Straße 26, underground stations Dahlem-Dorf or Thielplatz (U3)
  
  
• November 8-9, 2010
  
  
• The registration fee is 80 euros; registration is at the conference website

  
  
• Program, registration, and list of participants is posted at: www.languages-of-emotion.de/de/bac2010

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