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Behavioral correlates of social anxiety
The British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology
|June 1, 1978
Summary
High school students with higher social anxiety exhibited less talking and reduced eye contact during interviews. Non-verbal behaviors varied significantly, suggesting individual analysis is crucial.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Communication Studies
Background:
- Social anxiety is a common concern among adolescents.
- Non-verbal communication plays a critical role in social interactions.
- Previous research has linked social anxiety to altered social behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between social anxiety levels and specific non-verbal behaviors in high school students.
- To examine how social anxiety affects talking, eye contact, and gesturing during a structured interview.
Main Methods:
- A paper-and-pencil test was used to assess social anxiety in high school students.
- Participants engaged in a 10-minute videotaped interview.
- Talking, eye contact, and gesturing behaviors were quantitatively analyzed from the recordings.
Main Results:
- Students with higher social anxiety scores talked less when listening to instructions.
- Highly anxious students maintained eye contact for shorter total durations and in shorter bouts while speaking.
- During listening, highly anxious students showed greater variability in average eye contact bout duration.
- Gesturing behavior analysis was also conducted, though specific results are detailed in the full study.
Conclusions:
- Social anxiety significantly impacts observable non-verbal communication patterns in adolescents.
- Reduced talking and altered eye contact are key indicators in socially anxious students.
- Individual differences in non-verbal behavior are significant, advocating for personalized analysis over group generalizations.