Which of the following best describes tangentiality?

A. Lack of motivation. Avolition, not alogia, refers to a severe lack of motivation to initiate and sustain goal-directed activities. It is a common negative symptom of schizophrenia, leading to difficulties in completing tasks such as hygiene, work, or social activities.

B. No empathy. Lack of empathy is more commonly associated with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) or narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) rather than schizophrenia. Individuals with schizophrenia may struggle with social interactions, but this is due to cognitive deficits rather than a lack of concern for others.

C. Reduction in quantity of words spoken. Alogia refers to poverty of speech, characterized by diminished verbal output and difficulty generating spontaneous speech. It is a negative symptom of schizophrenia, often presenting as brief, empty responses or difficulty engaging in conversation.

D. Inability to experience pleasure. Anhedonia refers to the inability to feel pleasure in activities that were once enjoyable. It is another negative symptom of schizophrenia and is also seen in major depressive disorder and other mood disorders.

A. Argumentative. Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is characterized by a pattern of defiant, hostile, and argumentative behavior toward authority figures. Children with ODD frequently argue with adults, refuse to comply with rules, and deliberately provoke others.

B. Resentful. Children with ODD often display persistent resentment and anger, particularly when they feel they have been wronged. They may hold grudges and struggle to forgive perceived slights, leading to ongoing conflicts with parents, teachers, or peers.

C. Aggressive toward animals. Aggression toward animals is not a symptom of ODD but is a key feature of conduct disorder (CD). Children with conduct disorder engage in severe violations of social norms, including cruelty to animals, destruction of property, and physical aggression toward people. ODD, in contrast, involves defiant and disruptive behaviors without serious violations of others' rights.

D. Vindictive. A vindictive attitude is one of the diagnostic criteria for ODD. Children with ODD may seek revenge, retaliate excessively, or intentionally annoy others to provoke a reaction. This behavior is often fueled by feelings of frustration and perceived injustice.