chapter 20 BEHV 2018

Key Themes

• Social Anxiety Disorder

• Symptoms and Causes

• State and Trait Shyness

• Behavioral Inhibition

• Fearful and Self-Conscious Shyness

• Embarrassment

• Dramaturgic Model

• Social Evaluation Model

Learning Outcomes

• Understand theories and corollaries of social anxiety and embarrassment.

• Contextualize social anxiety disorder to appreciate shyness variations.

• Familiarity with shyness theories and models.

• Understand embarrassment theories and models.

Introducing Social Anxieties and Social Anxiety Disorder

• Shyness and embarrassment are part of social anxieties, including shame.

• Significant research exists on individual psychology differentiating social traits.

• Social anxiety disorder highlights detrimental shyness effects.

What Exactly is Social Anxiety Disorder?

• 'Social anxiety' and 'social phobia' are often used interchangeably; some argue they differ:

  • Mattick and Clarke define 'social phobia' as anxiety from being observed.

  • 'Social interaction anxiety' is distress from meeting people.

  • Social anxiety is fear of failure and negative judgment in social settings.

• Some propose the terms are interchangeable due to DSM-IV overlap.

• Thomas Richards favors 'social anxiety' for clearer understanding and differentiation from true phobias, highlighting the pervasive nature of social anxiety.

• Paul, a student anxious in social settings, exemplifies social anxiety disorder's impact.

• The disorder extends beyond shyness, affecting social life and career potential.

General Symptoms, Prevalence, and Conceptions of Social Anxiety Disorder

• Central to social anxiety: fear of humiliation or judgment leads to physical symptoms.

• 16% of the population experiences it at some point; typically begins in childhood or adolescence.

• The origins may trace back to prehistoric times when social bonding was crucial.

Definitions and Diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder

• DSM-IV criteria for diagnosing social anxiety disorder include:

  • Persistent fear of embarrassing situations.

  • Immediate physical anxiety responses.

  • Awareness of exaggerated fears yet feeling powerless.

  • Avoidance of social situations.

• Variants include generalized and non-generalized social anxiety disorders.

• Symptoms are categorized into cognitive, physical, and behavioral reactions.

Cognitive Symptoms

• Negative self-thoughts, self-doubt, and anxiety about judgment typify social anxiety.

• These may lead to low self-esteem.

Physical Reactions

• Symptoms include panic attacks, shaking, shortness of breath, and insomnia.

• Constant alertness can lead to fatigue and stress.

Behavioral Avoidance

• Avoidance behaviors include:

  • Skipping social events.

  • Limited relationships and career choices.

• Such behaviors reinforce social anxiety and hinder coping skills.

What Causes Social Anxiety Disorder?

• Causes may involve:

  • Genetics, developmental influences, and chemical imbalance.

Genetic and Biological Influences

• Genetic predispositions and early behavior patterns can affect social anxiety development.

Developmental Theory

• Early anxiety traits may be heightened by stressors and life events leading to social anxiety.

Chemical Imbalances

• Neurotransmitter dysfunctions and brain regions related to anxiety response are critical to understanding the condition.

Shyness

• A symptom of social anxiety disorder; often linked with negative self-perceptions and health issues.

• Shy individuals face social difficulties and may want to overcome their shyness.

What is Shyness?

• Defined as discomfort in social situations tied to subjective preoccupation with self.

• Variants may include chronic or situational shyness, manifesting at cognitive, emotional, physiological, and behavioral levels.

  • Cognitive: Negative self-perception.

  • Affective: Low self-esteem, loneliness.

  • Physiological: Blushing, dizziness.

  • Behavioral: Silence or excessive movement.

The Consequences of Shyness

• Consequences range from mild discomfort to social isolation, low opportunities, and health issues.

State Versus Trait Shyness

• State shyness is situational; trait shyness is a lasting personality aspect.

State Shyness

• Triggered by cognitive and emotional interactions, leading to withdrawal.

Trait Shyness

• Reflects personality, genetics, and coping mechanisms.

Shyness and Personality

• Introverts are not always shy; shyness denotes a fear of negative evaluation.

Shyness, Genetics and Behavioral Inhibition

• Behavioral inhibition in children is linked to shyness and potential social anxiety.

Fearful and Self-Conscious Shyness

• Two types involve early fears and later self-awareness.

Shyness and Culture

• Cross-cultural studies reveal commonality in shyness experiences.

Shyness and the Internet

• The internet can help shy individuals communicate effectively and build social confidence.

Empathy

• Research aims to incorporate empathetic embarrassment alongside situational embarrassment.

Embarrassment

• Defined as self-consciousness after social errors, linked to social desires and expectations.

• Traditionally seen as part of shyness, it is now recognized as an independent issue with unique causes.

Four Theories of Embarrassment

• Models propose causes of embarrassment:

  • Dramaturgic.

  • Social Evaluation.

  • Situational Self-Esteem.

  • Personal Standards.

Re-Evaluation of the Embarrassment Models

• A combination of social evaluation and dramaturgic models capture the essence of embarrassment.

Categorization of Embarrassing Situations

• Situations that trigger embarrassment can be categorized into:

  • Faux Pas

  • Sticky Situations

  • Being the Center of Attention

Empathetic or Vicarious Embarrassment

• Embarrassment experienced on behalf of others has significant implications for social behavior.

Embarrassment, Measurement, and Personality

• The Embarrassibility Scale measures situational embarrassment; the Susceptibility to Embarrassment Scale evaluates individual tendencies towards embarrassment.