Which symptom is related to diminished social engagement in schizophrenia?

The symptom associated with diminished social engagement in schizophrenia is asociality. This term refers specifically to a lack of motivation to engage in social interactions and a general disinterest in forming or maintaining relationships. Individuals experiencing asociality may exhibit withdrawal from social situations, preferring to isolate themselves rather than participate in social activities.

In the context of schizophrenia, asociality can significantly impact a person's quality of life and contribute to the functional impairments commonly seen in the disorder. It is one of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, which are characterized by a reduction or absence of normal emotional responses and social behaviors.

Other symptoms such as alogia, amotivation, and affective flattening relate to different aspects of functioning in schizophrenia. Alogia pertains to a poverty of speech or limited speech output, while amotivation refers to a lack of motivation that may not be specifically linked to social interactions. Affective flattening describes a reduction in emotional expression, which can affect social engagement but does not specifically denote diminished interest in socializing. Thus, asociality is the most directly connected symptom to diminished social engagement in individuals with schizophrenia.