What defines blunted, constricted, or flat affect?

Blunted, constricted, or flat affect refers to a significant reduction in emotional expression. This lack of emotional display is indicative of a state where an individual shows minimal emotional response to situations that would normally elicit a broader range of feelings.

When an affect is described as blunted, it means that the individual may still experience emotions internally, but these feelings are not expressed outwardly with the typical intensity or variety. A constricted affect suggests that emotional responses are limited or narrowed, showing less range than expected. Flat affect indicates a complete absence of emotional expression, resulting in an unemotional demeanor.

The other options describe emotional responses that do not align with the definitions of blunted, constricted, or flat affect. Exaggerated emotional responses indicate over-expression of feelings, which is the opposite of what these terms convey. A sustained emotional state implies a consistent level of emotion that doesn’t fluctuate, unlike the reduced emotional expression characteristic of blunted or flat affect. Fluctuating expression of feelings refers to varying emotional responses, which again contrasts with the idea of minimal or absent emotional display. Thus, the choice correctly identifying the characteristic of blunted, constricted, or flat affect as a lack of emotional attachment in affect holds true.