How does social phobia develop?

Social phobia: a common phenomenon

Shyness and stage fright are the main characteristics of social anxiety. It is a common phenomenon affecting the vast majority of us. Women suffer more than men (6.6% of women compared to 2.6% of men in the general population). Some of them have developed such a high level of anxiety that they are no longer able to cope with certain situations. So how does social phobia develop?

Social phobia and adolescence

Social phobia almost always develops during adolescence. It can also appear in childhood (more rarely) as it is possible that the anxiety is passed on from generation to generation. These children are born with temperamental predispositions and health professionals are able to spot them in the early years of life. Preventive solutions exist and we will see this a little further on…

Different causes for the development of this phobia

Patients often wonder about the origin of their phobia. It is not so easy to identify it since the causes cannot be explained by a specific situation or object. Biological, psychological and social factors must be taken into account to understand the development of social phobia:

A hereditary component:
The biology of the child is organised from its development in the mother’s womb. The emotional atmosphere during pregnancy and the mothering styles adopted by the mother determine the child’s genes. It is these inherited genes that partly predispose the child’s emotional reactivity as it grows older. For example, the child is likely to have a more violent emotional response when confronted with shouting and anger.
For example, studies have shown that if a family member has a social phobia you are more likely to develop one too.

Psychological approach

The psychological model is a different approach. It refers to normal cognitive, emotional and behavioural processes. It studies the development of the phobia through the representations of the world that one makes. It is life events marked by rejection and mockery by peers that prompt the person to start avoidance behaviours. Social phobia can also develop through observation of one’s environment. Indeed, if you have often witnessed humiliating behaviour from one individual/group towards another individual, if you have been surrounded by people who regularly make judgements… you will tend to be anxious about experiencing the same thing.

Educational recommendations also play a role and maintain negative thoughts “Beware of others”, “It is better to keep quiet than to say stupid things”, “If I start blushing I will be laughed at”. Thus, a parent or parents/relatives who themselves tend to be suspicious of social relationships will condition you (voluntarily or involuntarily) to develop a predisposition to social anxiety.

The social factor is certainly the most revealing. Often, in the context of social phobia, we find people who have an “introverted personality” or a very important shyness since childhood. In addition, they will have difficulties in emotional and relational skills which will impact on situations calling for this type of skill, such as passing a job interview, looking for and keeping a job due to their lack of integrity within a team or being exposed to professional circumstances (meetings, relations with others, appointments with clients, etc.). This puts them in a situation of difficulty and/or failure and amplifies the negative representations of their experiences (shame of not being up to it, fear of not finding a new job). If you suffer from social phobia, you may also have high, unattainable expectations of yourself, which will constantly set you back in your social relationships.

Social phobia, like any other type of phobia, will take root through various avoidance experiences. Indeed, if the fact of speaking in public, of holding conversations or of meeting people makes you anxious, you will have the reflex to avoid these situations. Avoiding these situations will give you short-term relief. However, this short-term relief will create a vicious circle that will further entrench the anxiety felt in these situations.

Do you suffer from social phobia?

A detailed interview with a therapist will enable you to find out the origin of the disorder. The discussions are not theoretical, but focus on the main questions you might ask yourself: “Is it possible that I will pass this on to my children? Will I ever be able to stop suffering from it? Am I obliged to know my past and the origin of my disorder in order to heal? It is indeed essential for the therapist to understand your reasoning and your questioning so that he/she can help you and offer you an appropriate therapy.

To evaluate yourself, test your sensitivity to the eyes of others.