Alexithymia and Emotional Expression Styles in Iranian Subcultures

The purpose of this study is to compare alexithymia and emotional expression styles (emotional expressiveness, emotional control and ambivalence over emotional expressiveness) among university students of Iranian subcultures. A sample included 200 university students (5o university students of each subculture) was selected fromTarbiat Moallem University. All participants were asked to complete Twenty-Items Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Emotional Expressiveness Questionnaire, Emotional Control Questionnaire and Ambivalence over Emotional Expressiveness Questionnaire. The results indicated that there is no significant difference among university students ofsubcultures in alexithymia and its sub-scales. The results also showed there is no significant difference among university students of subcultures in emotional expressiveness, emotional control and ambivalence over emotional expressiveness and their sub-scale. In other words, Iranian university students of each subculture (Kord,Tork, Lor and Fars) resemble in ability of identifying and describing feelings and kind of emotional expression style.