Story perspectives
Germany's Emotional Coldness: Generational Shift in Expression
12/16/2025
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Story summary
- Germany's cultural reluctance to express emotions stems from historical trauma linked to the Nazi era and two world wars.
- Older generations struggle to answer simple questions like 'How are you?', shaping social interactions into perceptions of coldness.
- Journalist Heike Geißler notes that this once-simple question has become a complex challenge.
- Younger generations are more open about their feelings and use mental health resources, offering hope.
