alexithymia

alexithymia (ey-lek-suh-THAI-mee-uh) - n., difficulty in experiencing, expressing, and describing emotional responses.


So a dysfunction in emotional awareness, which can also cause difficulty distinguishing and appreciating the emotions of others. Coined by psychiatrists John Case Nemiah and Peter Sifneos from Ancient Greek a-, not + léxis, speaking + thumós, heart, so "without words for emotions."

---L.