Threat is in the eye of the beholder: social anxiety and the interpretation of ambiguous facial expressions

Behav Res Ther. 2007 Apr;45(4):839-47. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2006.05.004. Epub 2006 Jun 23.

Abstract

The current study investigated the tendency of individuals with high levels of social anxiety to interpret ambiguous facial expressions in a threatening manner. Results obtained from self-report measures were consistent with previous studies in which highly socially anxious individuals endorsed threatening interpretations for ambiguous social information. More importantly, highly socially anxious participants showed relative facilitation of processing of threatening faces following neutral faces when a priming technique was used to eliminate artifact due to response selection bias. These findings support the hypothesized social anxiety-linked interpretive bias.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anxiety / psychology*
  • Emotions
  • Facial Expression*
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Phobic Disorders / psychology*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Social Perception*