Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
05:32
Comparing Eye-tracking Data of Children with High-functioning ASD, Comorbid ADHD, and of a Control Watching Social Videos
Published on: December 7, 2018
Gaze avoidance in social anxiety disorder.
Justin W Weeks1, Ashley N Howell, Philippe R Goldin
1Center for Evaluation and Treatment of Anxiety, Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA. weeksj@ohio.edu
Depression and Anxiety
|June 27, 2013
Summary
Individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD) exhibit greater gaze avoidance towards both positive and negative social feedback during dynamic interactions. This finding supports gaze avoidance as a key behavioral marker for SAD.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Previous research links gaze avoidance to social anxiety using static images.
- Gaze avoidance is recognized as a behavioral marker for social anxiety.
- The bivalent fear of evaluation (BFOE) model proposes avoidance in response to social feedback.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between social anxiety disorder (SAD) symptoms and gaze avoidance.
- To examine gaze tendencies in response to dynamic social interactions using covert eye tracking.
- To test the BFOE model's prediction of gaze avoidance in SAD.
Main Methods:
- 20 participants with SAD and 19 non-socially anxious controls (NSAC) were recruited.
- Participants underwent clinical diagnostic interviews.
- Covert eye tracking was used during a computerized social simulation with dynamic videos (positive and negative feedback).
Main Results:
- Participants with SAD showed significantly greater global gaze avoidance than controls.
- Gaze avoidance was observed in response to both positive and negative social feedback videos.
- The SAD group displayed similar levels of gaze avoidance for both positive and negative stimuli.
Conclusions:
- Gaze avoidance is confirmed as a behavioral marker for SAD.
- Findings support the bivalent fear of evaluation (BFOE) model of social anxiety.
- Implications for assessing SAD are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of social situations where one might face humiliation, rejection, embarrassment, or negative evaluation. This disorder leads individuals to avoid activities like casual conversations, public speaking, or seemingly simple tasks such as eating, signing documents, or swimming, in public settings. Its impact extends beyond discomfort, often significantly interfering with daily functioning and quality of life.
01:14Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development
The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
Exploration...
Exploration...
01:14Frustration and Conflict: Avoidance-Avoidance, Double-Approach Avoidance
Avoidance-avoidance conflict refers to a psychological situation where a person must choose between two or more unpleasant alternatives. These conflicts are particularly stressful because neither option is desirable. This dilemma is often expressed in sayings like "caught between a rock and a hard place" or "between the devil and the deep blue sea." For instance, individuals who fear dental procedures may find themselves torn between enduring a painful toothache or facing the anxiety of...
01:24Prosopagnosia
Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is the inability to recognize faces. In severe cases, individuals with prosopagnosia may not recognize close family members, including parents and spouses, by their faces. For instance, someone with prosopagnosia might walk past their child in a crowd, only realizing their mistake upon noticing their child's distinctive backpack or favorite jacket. Prosopagnosia specifically impairs facial recognition, while the recognition of other objects or...
01:30Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that persists for at least six months, significantly interfering with daily functioning. Unlike situational anxiety, which arises in response to specific stressors, GAD often occurs without a clear cause. Individuals may experience disproportionate worry about work, health, or relationships. For instance, a person might continuously fear poor health despite normal medical evaluations or...
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.