Attributional style and symptoms of shyness in a heterosocial interaction

Abstract

Cognitive models of shyness suggest that a maladaptive attributional style may contribute to social interaction problems. Subjects' attributional style for heterosocial interactions was assessed and used to predict symptoms of shyness in a heterosocial conversation. Analyses focused on which causal dimensions (e.g., locus) accounted for unique increments in prediction of shyness. Results showed that the dimension of controllability made a greater number of contributions to the prediction of shyness variables, while locus made some contribution and stability only one. Subjects' tendency to attribute both successful and failed heterosocial interactions tocontrollable causes was associated with less report of dispositional shyness and subjective anxiety during the conversation. Also, the belief that causes of failed interactions arecontrollable was associated with a more adaptive balance of positive and negative thoughts during the conversation. Subject's tendency to attribute both successful and failed interactions to internal (locus) causes made a unique contribution only to prediction of subjective anxiety. Implications of the findings for further research and selection of therapeutic tactics are discussed.