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Published on: September 27, 2020
Self-verification and social anxiety: preference for negative social feedback and low social self-esteem
David P Valentiner1, John J Skowronski, Patrick B McGrath
1Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, USA. dvalentiner@niu.edu
Background:
A self-verification model of social anxiety views negative social self-esteem as a core feature of social anxiety. This core feature is proposed to be maintained through self-verification processes, such as by leading individuals with negative social self-esteem to prefer negative social feedback. This model is tested in two studies.
Methods:
In Study 1, questionnaires were administered to a college sample (N = 317). In Study 2, questionnaires were administered to anxiety disordered patients (N = 62) before and after treatment.
Results:
Study 1 developed measures of preference for negative social feedback and social self-esteem, and provided evidence of their incremental validity in a college sample. Study 2 found that these two variables are not strongly related to fears of evaluation, are relatively unaffected by a treatment that targets such fears, and predict residual social anxiety following treatment.
Conclusions:
Overall, these studies provide preliminary evidence for a self-verification model of social anxiety.
Related Concept Videos
Strategies of Self-Presentation II: Self-Verification
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison
Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects
Need for Self-Esteem
Social Anxiety Disorder

