What Does it Mean When a Person Is Emotionally Unavailable?

A person is considered emotionally unavailable when he is unable to share his emotions with others. This term often connotes a feeling of disconnection from another person. Emotional unavailability occurs for various reasons.

Males

Emotional unavailability is often associated with typical male gender roles. Men and boys may be expected to shut down emotionally and distance themselves from their emotions. Media messages, such as cartoons and super hero stories, encourage boys to disregard their emotions, thus teaching them to lose touch with this aspect of their persona.

Mothers

Mothers with perinatal depression may become emotionally unavailable to their newborns. In this case the mother can be unable to connect with her newborn, becoming distant and thus emotionally unavailable. This can have a negative impact on the child's development.

Romantic Relationships

In a romantic relationship a person who does not share his emotional side with his partner is being emotionally unavailable. This can include not sharing information from his life, including his feelings and thoughts, in a manner that is expected in an intimate relationship.

References

• American Psychological Association: Today's Superheroes Send Wrong Images to Boys, Say Researchers
• "The Daily Examiner": Courses on offer for new moms
• "Psychology Today": Emotional Infidelity

Resources

• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy