Expressed emotion

Expressed emotion is a way of talking about how people show their feelings and emotions to others. It can help us understand how people react to different situations or challenges.

Some people show a lot of emotions, like when they get really excited or mad or happy, and they might show this with their body language, facial expressions, or tone of voice. This is called high expressed emotion.

People who show fewer emotions, or keep them to themselves, are called low expressed emotion.

Scientists study expressed emotion because they want to know how it affects people's mental health, especially in families where there might be a lot of stress or conflict.

For example, if someone in a family is always angry or critical, it can make others feel really upset or anxious. This can be especially hard for someone who is already struggling with a mental health issue, like depression or schizophrenia.

By understanding how expressed emotion works, doctors and therapists can help families develop better communication and coping skills that can help reduce stress and improve overall mental health.