Fear Of Negative Social Evaluation Research Articles

A brain model of altered self-appraisal in social anxiety disorder

The brain’s default mode network has a central role in the processing of information concerning oneself. Dysfunction in this self-referential processing represents a key component of multiple mental health conditions, particularly social anxiety disorder (SAD). This case-control study aimed to clarify alterations to network dynamics present during self-appraisal in SAD participants. A total of 38 adolescents and young adults with SAD and 72 healthy control participants underwent a self-referential processing fMRI task. The task involved two primary conditions of interest: direct self-appraisal (thinking about oneself) and reflected self-appraisal (thinking about how others might think about oneself). Dynamic causal modeling and parametric empirical Bayes were then used to explore differences in the effective connectivity of the default mode network between groups. We observed connectivity differences between SAD and healthy control participants in the reflected self-appraisal but not the direct self-appraisal condition. Specifically, SAD participants exhibited greater excitatory connectivity from the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) to medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and greater inhibitory connectivity from the inferior parietal lobule (IPL) to MPFC. In contrast, SAD participants exhibited reduced intrinsic connectivity in the absence of task modulation. This was illustrated by reduced excitatory connectivity from the PCC to MPFC and reduced inhibitory connectivity from the IPL to MPFC. As such, participants with SAD showed changes to afferent connections to the MPFC which occurred during both reflected self-appraisal as well as intrinsically. The presence of connectivity differences in reflected and not direct self-appraisal is consistent with the characteristic fear of negative social evaluation that is experienced by people with SAD.

Bystander barriers in sexual harassment - Associations with the Dark Triad and social anxiety

Bystanders play a potentially important role in sexual harassment, but they often fail to intervene. Previous research has linked bystander failure to a host of situational and individual factors. In this brief study, we investigated the Dark Triad (i.e., Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) and social anxiety (i.e., fear of negative social evaluation) in relation to five bystander barriers. In an online study, 294 participants (mostly from United Kingdom) completed questionnaires on the Dark Triad, Fear of Negative Social Evaluation, and five Bystander Barriers. In regression analyses (controlling for age and gender), psychopathy and fear of negative evaluation were significant positive predictors for failure to notice harassment. For failure to take intervention responsibility, gender (i.e., being male) and Machiavellianism were significant positive predictors. For skills and audience inhibition, Machiavellianism and fear of negative evaluation were significant positive, and psychopathy a significant negative predictor. Our results suggest that personality and social anxiety independently predict different difficulties in bystander intervention.

Concordance in salivary cortisol and subjective anxiety to the trier social stress test in social anxiety disorder

BackgroundSocial anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterised by an excessive fear of negative social evaluation. There is a limited understanding of how individuals with SAD react physiologically and subjectively to social stress. MethodThe Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), an acute social stress task, was completed by 40 SAD individuals (50% female) and 41 healthy controls (matched on age, sex, and education) to examine salivary cortisol and self-reported stress reactivity. Salivary cortisol concentrations and self-reported affect (anxiety, sadness, tiredness, withdrawal, and happiness) were assessed at baseline and across nine-time points during the TSST. ResultsBayesian salivary cortisol analyses revealed no group differences in salivary cortisol levels at baseline or during the TSST, with results comparative after the removal of 17 cortisol non-responders (21%). Contrastingly, the groups significantly differed on self-reported affect. At baseline, the SAD group (vs. controls) reported heightened negative affect and diminished happiness. In response to the TSST, the SAD group (vs. controls) displayed greater negative affect reactivity and diminished happiness reactivity, and significantly higher rates of change in their anxiety and sadness over time. After accounting for differences in the temporal resolution of self-reported versus cortisol responses, a moderate positive association was found between salivary cortisol and anxiety reactivity to social stress that was comparable between the groups. ConclusionsDespite elevated subjective anxiety, our findings suggest concordance in psychobiological stress reactivity in SAD and healthy controls. We discuss the possibility of heightened subjective sensitivity to social evaluative stress as a core treatment target for SAD.

The psychosocial impact of losing an eye through traumatic injury and living with prosthetic restoration: A thematic analysis

This study aims to explore the psychosocial factors and challenges affecting the lives of those who wear an ocular prosthesis following a traumatic eye injury. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with eight individuals resulted in five themes: emotional devastation in the aftermath; moving forward; fear of negative social evaluation; keeping it normal - protecting self and close others; and threat of injury & blindness. Enucleation or evisceration of an eye causes significant emotional stress. Despite successful prosthetic restoration, many individuals continue to experience ongoing psychosocial challenges, as a consequence of their experiences of visible difference and visual impairment.

How depressive symptoms and fear of negative evaluation affect feedback evaluation in social decision-making

• Individuals with symptoms of depression rejected more ultimatum game offers when the offer magnitude increased. • Positive emotional feedback was linked to a reward positivity, which did not occur in participants with higher symptoms of depression. • Both, individuals high in symptoms of depression and fear of negative evaluation approached sad feedback by rejecting more offers. The influence of emotional feedback on social decision-making situations is an omnipresent part of social interaction. Complementing existing research on the impact of approach- and avoidance-related personality traits, we examined the role of sub-clinical depression and fear of negative social evaluation in a modified ultimatum game. Different proposer identities reacted with distinct affective facial expressions to the acceptance and rejection of monetary offers in the ultimatum game. Facial expressions of proposers were relevant for depression and anxiety: A smile in response to acceptance or angry and sad feedback in response to rejection. People with higher symptoms of depression rejected more offers when the offer magnitude increased. Both, individuals with symptoms of depression and fear of negative evaluation approached sad feedback by rejecting more offers. At the neural level, positive emotional feedback (i.e., a smiling face) was linked to a reward positivity, which did not occur in participants with higher symptoms of depression. Since our paradigm implies a decision-dependent feedback pattern, the negative feedback might have been expected and was therefore not perceived as particularly relevant. The results indicate specific behavioral as well as neural reaction patterns, which can be used especially for an initial subclinical identification of depression.

Explaining Health Disparities between Heterosexual and LGB Adolescents by Integrating the Minority Stress and Psychological Mediation Frameworks: Findings from the TRAILS Study

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adolescents experience elevated levels of internalizing problems and use more substances than heterosexual adolescents. The minority stress and psychological mediation framework are complementary theoretical frameworks that were developed to explain these disparities. However, limited empirical research has integrated both frameworks to study health disparities between heterosexual and LGB adolescents. This study attempts such an integration, using data from the first five waves (participant age 11–22) of the TRacking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS), a cohort study of Dutch adolescents (N = 1738; 151 LGB; 54.8% girls). It was tested whether an LGB identity was linked to internalizing problems and substance use through a serial mediation process, in which sexual identity would be associated with peer victimization and negative relationships with parents (first set of mediators, in keeping with the minority stress framework), which in turn would be associated with fear of negative social evaluation and a lack of social support (second set of mediators, in keeping with the psychological mediation framework), and eventually increasing the risk for internalizing problems and elevated levels of substance use. Moreover, it was tested whether the link between minority stress and substance use was mediated by peers’ substance use levels, as hypothesized by the psychological mediation framework. Compared to heterosexual participants, LGB participants reported more internalizing problems, smoked more cigarettes, and used more marijuana, but did not consume more alcohol. The relation between sexual identity and internalizing problems was mediated by peer victimization and parental rejection, which is in line with the minority stress framework. No statistically significant support was found for the psychological mediation framework. These findings provide a better understanding of the pathways through which sexual identity disparities in mental wellbeing and substance use come about.

The independent relationship between trouble controlling Facebook use, time spent on the site and distress.

Background and AimsThere is an emerging literature base on the relationship between maladaptive traits and “addiction” to social networking sites. These studies have operationalized addiction as either spending excessive amounts of time on social networking sites (SNS) or trouble controlling SNS use, but have not assessed the unique contribution of each of these constructs on outcomes in the same models. Moreover, these studies have exclusively been conducted with younger people rather than a heterogeneous sample. This study examined the independent relationship of a brief Facebook addiction scale, time spent on Facebook, and Facebook checking on positive and negative social domains, while controlling for self-esteem and social desirability.MethodsParticipants were recruited using e-mail, SNS posts and through Amazon’s MTurk system. The sample included 489 respondents ages from 18 to approximately 70, who completed a 10–15 minute survey.ResultsResults indicate that neither time spent on Facebook nor Facebook checking was significantly associated with either self-esteem, fear of negative social evaluation or social comparison, while SNS addiction symptoms were each independently associated with Facebook usage. Neither time spent on Facebook nor SNS addiction symptoms were associated with positive social relationships.DiscussionOverall results suggest that time on SNS and trouble controlling use should be considered independent constructs and that interventions should target underlying loss of control as the primary intervention target above ego syntonic time spent on the site.

Information Processing in Stuttering

Adults who stutter are at risk of developing a range of psychological issues, and those issueshave been implicated in failed speech rehabilitation. Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is the mostprevalent condition associated with stuttering. SAD has been prominent in psychologicalresearch in effort to understand the cause, maintenance and management of the condition. Toimprove the clinical management of stuttering it is critical to take account of cognitive theories ofSAD to further understanding of the mechanisms of anxiety onset and maintenance.Social anxiety disorder involves excessive, irrational, and debilitating fear of being humiliatedand embarrassed in social situations. Severe cases can result in high levels of avoidancewhich can lead to social isolation and failure to participate in many normal occupational, socialand interpersonal activities. However, not all situations can be avoided. A person with SAD islikely to encounter anxiety inducing situations on many occasions in absence of the fearedevent, and yet their fears persist. Hence, avoidance alone cannot account for this persistence ofanxiety. It is increasingly apparent that expectancies of social harm and fear of negative socialevaluation are central to the nature of anxiety associated with stuttering. Similar to theavoidance reported in SAD, avoidance is a common reaction reported by people who stutter,including avoidance of words, specific situations and eye contact.Cognitive theorists suggest that information processing biases are involved in maintenance offear and anxiety associated with SAD [Clark, D. M., & Wells, A. (1995). A cognitive model ofsocial phobia.In R. G. Heimberg, M. R. Liebowitz, D. A. Hope, & F. R. Schneier. (Eds.) SocialPhobia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Treatment. (pp. 69-93). New York: The Guildford Press;Rapee, R. M., &Heimberg, R. G. (1997). A cognitive-behavioral model of anxiety in socialphobia.Behaviour Research and Therapy, 35, 741-756]. These cognitive processes include (1)self-focused attention, (2) reduced processing of external social cues (3) intrusive mentalimagery, (4) rumination and (5) safety behaviors. Routine clinical psychology interventions toreduce anxiety in SAD involve identifying and eliminating information processing biases andclient safety behaviors. However, a recent publication has shown that during routine clinical treatment of stuttering speech-language pathologists commonly recommend that clients engagein a range of tasks that might function as safety behaviors. In other words, they may perpetuateclient social anxiety.The effects of information processing biases have been well documented in SAD and evidenceis emerging of such biases in adults who stutter. To improve clinical outcomes for people whostutter, there is a critical need for this research to continue. In particular, exploration of theextent to which people who stutter engage in information processing biases that are well knownto maintain anxiety in SAD. The application of models of SAD to stuttering research is crucial tothis line of research.

Effects of fear of negative social evaluation in interaction with potential partners: experimental study of first encounters / Efectos del temor a la evaluación social negativa en interacción con parejas potenciales: estudio experimental de los primeros encuentros

This study used an experimental procedure to evaluate the effects of fear of negative social evaluation (FNSE) on courtship strategies and the ability to interact with the opposite sex. 108 university students participated in this study with a mean age of 19.6. Prior to the experimental procedure, FNSE levels were measured. Then two photographs of people of the opposite sex were shown, one more attractive than the other, and the participants were informed that they would meet one of them. Levels of anxiety and self-presentation motivation (SPM) were measured before the planned interaction. Results show that people with low levels of FNSE have positive expectations of reciprocity when they are about to meet a person that they find attractive. Women, but not men, with high levels of FNSE report higher SPM with less attractive people than with more attractive people. High levels of FNSE are associated with a loss of calm in the situation of meeting a person of the opposite sex. Implications of these results are discussed in the context of courtship strategies.

The money attitude of covert and overt narcissists

The money attitude of covert and overt narcissists was studied. Both covert and overt narcissism predicted the power-prestige dimension of money attitude, which were both mediated by the need for social power. Interestingly, the relationship for covert narcissism was also mediated by the fear of negative social evaluation, confirming its socially vulnerable and hypersensitive features. In addition, the anxiety and distrust factors of money attitude were correlated with covert narcissism only. Anxiety was explained by the need for power and avoidance motivation, but no significant mediator was found for distrust. These findings provide evidence to the similarities and differences between the two types of narcissism. They also shed light on narcissists’ money-related behaviors, such as investment strategy and consumer behaviors.

High functioning autism spectrum disorders: an investigation of psychological vulnerabilities during interrogative interview

Forensic psychologists and psychiatrists are commonly asked to ascertain the reliability of statements made by suspects to the police during questioning and to assess an individual's vulnerability to providing information which is inaccurate, unreliable, and misleading during police interview. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterised by qualitative impairments in social communication and interaction, and a restricted or repetitive pattern of behaviours, interests, and activities. It is not clear whether people with ASD are more vulnerable at interview, or more prone to respond negatively to interrogative pressure, when compared with the general population. In the present study, 26 individuals with high functioning ASD, and 27 gender- and IQ-matched controls, were compared on measures of interrogative suggestibility and compliance as well as on measures of anxiety, depression, the extent to which they feared negative evaluation by others, and whether they had a suspicious outlook. There were no significant between-group differences on the measures of suggestibility, but the group with ASD were rated as significantly more compliant than the controls in terms of both parental and self-report, and also had higher scores on measures of depression, anxiety, fear of negative social evaluation and paranoia. Bi-modal distribution of suggestibility scores within the ASD group indicates that individual characteristics should be taken into account when considering an assessment. Individuals with ASD may be more eager to please or to avoid conflict and confrontation than controls, and may be more prone to respond compliantly to requests and demands.

Rejection sensitivity relates to hypocortisolism and depressed mood state in young women

Rejection sensitivity and the associated fear of negative social evaluation (FNSE) trait are characteristics of hypocortisolemic syndromes such as atypical depression. However, a meta-analysis showed that acute FNSE evokes strong cortisol responses in humans. This is consistent with suggestions that hypocortisolism reflects a protective adaptation to a history of high cortisol responses. This leads us to hypothesize that measures of trait FNSE relate to hypocortisolism. Moreover, because FNSE relates positively to depressed mood state, but negatively to cortisol, we expect that the positive relationship between depressed mood state and cortisol will show up most clearly when controlling for the confounding effect of FNSE on this relationship. In the present study we measured salivary cortisol awakening response and psychological variables in 194 community women aged 18-30 years. The results confirmed our hypotheses. We propose that dispositional FNSE is associated with a history of frequent high cortisol responses, leading to long-term protective inhibition of further cortisol and energy mobilization. The present results have special relevance for mental health problems that have high prevalence among young women.

Understanding shame in adults: retrospective perceptions of parental-bonding during childhood.

The association between perceptions of parental-bonding style during childhood and moral affect of shame at young adulthood were examined with 264 women and 140 men (mean age [+/- SD] = 20.4 +/- 1.6 years old). Shame affect was significantly positively related to fear of negative evaluation by others and social avoidance, and negatively related to recalled parental care in one's childhood. Multiple regression analyses indicated that maternal protectiveness, paternal care, fear of negative social evaluation, and social avoidance were significant predictors of shame, explaining 41% of the variance. Results support object relations theory, which states that shame is a moral affect associated with social evaluation apprehension and may have developmental implications for one's parental relations.

Shame-related social anxiety: Replicating a link with various social interaction measures

In the present study, 182 young adults (131 men, 51 men: M age=20.2) completed self-report measures of shame and social avoidance/distress, anxiety, desirability, and negative social evaluation. Results supported Lewis (1985) in that shame-proneness was related to social avoidance/distress, interaction anxiety, and fear of negative social evaluation (even when controlling for social desirability). Social distress/avoidance and interaction anxiety also were significant predictors of shame-proneness. Results suggeste that attention to social anxiety may be valuable in the treatment of shameprone individuals.

Irrational beliefs and anxiety

Samples of 451 (205 male and 246 female) and 189 (78 male and 111 female) introductory psychology students completed measures of irrational beliefs, trait anxiety, test anxiety, speech anxiety, fear of negative social evaluation, and social avoidance and distress. Simultaneous regressions on full and extreme group distributions showed no sex and sex ×belief interaction effects in the prediction of anxieties, suggesting that results were applicable to both sexes. Stepwise regressions of irrational beliefs on both full and extreme group distributions showed that (a) regression equations in the two samples were substantially replicated, (b) beliefs predictive of the full distribution were generally the same as those for the extreme groups, (c) the amount of variance accounted for in the extreme groups was greater than in the full distributions, (d) the amount of variance accounted for by irrational beliefs varied from one type of anxiety to another type of anxiety, and (e) different beliefs tended to be predictive of the different anxieties. Implications for the understanding and treatment of anxities were discussed.