ABSTRACTThe physical threat anticipation paradigm was modified for the study of anticipatory social anxiety responses. It was found that heart rate (HR) and skin conductance (SC) responses during anticipation of a socially threatening event (i.e., public speaking) were similar to those occurring prior to physical threat, with the largest changes taking place during the final portion of anticipation. Likewise, self‐reports of cognitively experienced nervousness displayed a positively accelerating pattern of increase as the time of performance approached. The present findings suggest a psychological time‐division process, such that the anticipation interval consists of an initial waiting period, followed by a briefer period of active preparatron.During the anticipation interval high and low socially‐anxious subjects displayed similar HR and SC responses, but differed significantly in patterns of finger pulse volume (FPV) and self‐reported nervousness. As performance became imminent, high socially‐anxious subjects evidenced increased vasoconstriction and reported greater nervousness than low socially‐anxious subjects.Taken together, these results indicate that, irrespective of psychometrically assessed anxiety, and/or type of threatening stimulus, the autonomic patterns during anticipation of threat are characterized by accelerating responsiveness. Thus, the temporal parameter of the anticipation situation (i.e., remaining time) is the primary determinant of reactions while awaiting threat.