Disrupted joint action accounts for reduced likability of socially anxious individuals

Mia Maria Günak,David M Clark,Miriam J.J Lommen

doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2019.101512

Mia Maria Günak, David M Clark + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2019.101512

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Abstract

Background and objectivesMotivated by their fear of disapproval, individuals with social anxiety continually monitor their own behaviour during social interactions hoping to prevent dreaded negative outcomes. Ironically, they do evoke less positive reactions from others. This study investigated whether lower engagement in the interpersonal process of joint action by socially anxious individuals leads them to attract less positive ratings by their conversation partners. MethodHigh socially anxious (HSA; N = 36) and low socially anxious individuals (LSA; N = 36) had separate conversations with a naïve conversation partner (N = 36). Conversations were filmed and analysed for joint action using the conventional manual way and a more exploratory automated way. Conversation partners rated the quality of the interaction and the person they talked to. ResultsConversation partners rated HSA participants less positively than LSA participants. The conventional manual method showed less joint action in conversations with LSA participants and crucially, joint action served as mediator between social anxiety status and general impression, quality of interaction and desire to meet again. These results were not replicated with the automated method. LimitationsThe study used an analogue sample and future research should investigate whether these findings also apply to a clinical sample. Future studies should further explore the utility of automated techniques to measure joint action. ConclusionReduced joint action may explain why socially anxious individuals tend to be perceived less positively by others. The findings emphasise the importance of taking an interpersonal and holistic approach to understanding aspects of social anxiety disorder.

Highlights

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) at its core is the fear of scrutiny and negative evaluation by others (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; Clark & Wells, 1995)
We extended Mein et al.’s (2016) findings by using mediation analysis to formally assess whether reductions in joint action might explain why high socially anxious individuals are perceived less favourably by their conversation partners
It was hypothesised that engagement in joint action is likely to be reduced in high socially anxious individuals compared to low socially anxious individuals and that this might partially account for less positive reactions from other people

Summary

Introduction

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) at its core is the fear of scrutiny and negative evaluation by others (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; Clark & Wells, 1995). External attention is reduced (Spurr & Stopa, 2002) and the individuals are less able to detect positive social cues from others (Veljaca & Rapee, 1998) Motivated by their fear of disapproval, individuals with social anxiety continually monitor their own behaviour during social interactions hoping to prevent dreaded negative outcomes. The conventional manual method showed less joint action in conversations with LSA participants and crucially, joint action served as mediator between social anxiety status and general impression, quality of interaction and desire to meet again. These results were not replicated with the automated method. The findings emphasise the importance of taking an interpersonal and holistic approach to understanding aspects of social anxiety disorder

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