Social Anxiety, Fear of Negative Evaluation, and Distress in a Virtual Reality Environment

• Published in: Behaviour change Vol. 38; no. 2; pp. 109 - 118
• Main Authors: Sigurvinsdottir, Rannveig, Soring, Karen, Kristinsdottir, Karen, Halfdanarson, Sveinn Gunnar, Johannsdottir, Kamilla R., Vilhjalmsson, Hannes H., Valdimarsdottir, Heiddis B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bowen Hills Cambridge University Press 01.06.2021
• Subjects: Anxiety; Audiences; Fear & phobias; Likert scale; Public speaking; Social anxiety; Social interaction; Social skills; Students; Validity; Virtual reality

According to cognitive theories of social anxiety, fear of negative evaluation (FNE) may be the mechanism whereby social anxiety induces distress. However, studying this can be challenging, as individuals with social anxiety may be reluctant to enter anxiety-provoking social situations, such as spea...