Abstract
Previous research has shown that patients with social phobia often experience negative, observer-perspective self-images when in anxiety-provoking social situations [Hackmann, A., Clark, D. M., & McManus, F. (2000). Recurrent images and early memories in social phobia. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 38, 601–610]. The present experiment investigated whether negative images play a role in the maintenance of social anxiety. High and low socially anxious individuals (n = 40 in each group) were asked to give a speech in front of a camera. Half of the samples were instructed to hold in mind a negative, observer-perspective self-image during the speech, whereas the other half held a positive image of themselves. High socially anxious participants in the negative imagery condition perceived more bodily sensations, rated specific aspects of their performance unfavourably, and rated the self-image as a more accurate reflection of the self, compared to high socially anxious individuals in the positive imagery condition. For the low socially anxious individuals there was no significant difference between the two imagery conditions on measures of anxiety and performance. These results support the hypothesis that negative self-imagery may be involved in the maintenance of social anxiety.
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Vassilopoulos, S. Social Anxiety and the Effects of Engaging in Mental Imagery1. Cogn Ther Res 29, 261–277 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-005-2993-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-005-2993-4