Anxiety, emotional security and the interpersonal behavior of individuals with social anxiety disorder

Background. Interpersonal functioning is central to social anxiety disorder (SAD). Empirical examinations ofinterpersonal behaviors in individuals with SAD have frequently relied on analogue samples, global retrospectivereports and laboratory observation. Moreover, research has focused on avoidance and safety behaviors, neglectingpotential links between SAD and affiliative behaviors.Method. The influence of situational anxiety and emotional security on interpersonal behaviors was examined forindividuals with SAD (n=40) and matched normal controls (n=40). Participants monitored their behavior and affectin naturally occurring social interactions using an event-contingent recording procedure.Results. Individuals with SAD reported higher levels of submissive behavior and lower levels of dominant behaviorrelative to controls. Consistent with cognitive–behavioral and evolutionary theories, elevated anxiety in specificevents predicted increased submissiveness among individuals with SAD. Consistent with attachment theory,elevations in event-level emotional security were associated with increased affiliative behaviors (increased agreeablebehavior and decreased quarrelsome behavior) among members of the SAD group. Results were not accounted forby concurrent elevations in sadness or between-group differences in the distribution of social partners.Conclusions. These findings are consistent with predictions based on several theoretical perspectives. Further, thepresent research documents naturally occurring interpersonal patterns of individuals with SAD and identifiesconditions under which these individuals may view social interactions as opportunities for interpersonalconnectedness.Received 15 June 2009; Revised 25 March 2010; Accepted 29 March 2010; First published online 12 May 2010Key words: Emotional security, interpersonal interaction, social anxiety disorder, social behavior, social phobia.