What does affect isolation indicate in a child's behavior?

Affect isolation refers to a condition where a child shows a lack of emotional expression or a diminished capacity to respond to emotions, including typical social cues and signs of affection. When a child does not respond to usual signs of affection, it indicates that the child may be experiencing an emotional disconnect from their social environment, which is a key characteristic of affect isolation. This could manifest in ways such as not reciprocating affection or appearing indifferent to the emotional states of others. This behavioral pattern is crucial to recognize as it may suggest underlying issues such as social-emotional challenges necessitating further support or intervention.