Effects of reductions in social anxiety on behaviour in

Abstract

Abstract Male students characterized by anxiety, avoidance and incompetence in heterosexual situations received treatment for heterosexual anxiety by either traditional or short-term desensitization or relaxation training. Only the desensitization subjects reported significant reductions in anxiety and avoidance. Self-appraised improvements in appropriateness of current behaviour and in other-perceived interaction competence for heterosexual situations were reported at posttreatment. These improvements, however, were not accompanied by significant changes in their behaviour as measured by the self-reported frequency of their social activities or participatory forms of social interaction. At follow-up, the desensitization subjects reported significant deteriorations in the appropriateness of their own behaviour even though they still perceived that others would judge their behaviour as competent. The treatment effects of relaxation training were in general, no different to those of no treatment.