Which description best defines social phobia?

Which description best defines social phobia?

• A. Excessive and persistent fear of social/performance situations in which embarrassment or negative judgments from others might occur
• B. Fear of bald people
• C. Fear of heights
• D. Fear of spiders

Answer: (A)

Social phobia (social anxiety disorder) centers on an excessive, persistent fear of social or performance situations where one could be watched, evaluated, or embarrassed by others. The crucial idea is not just having nerves in social settings, but fearing negative judgment to the point that a person goes to great lengths to avoid those situations or endures them with intense distress. This fear is out of proportion to the actual threat and causes noticeable impairment in daily life, such as in work, school, or relationships. This description captures the defining feature: the fear stems from worry about embarrassment or being judged, in social or performance contexts. Other options describe fears that are about specific objects or situations (like heights or spiders) and don’t involve the social evaluation aspect that defines social phobia.

Social phobia (social anxiety disorder) centers on an excessive, persistent fear of social or performance situations where one could be watched, evaluated, or embarrassed by others. The crucial idea is not just having nerves in social settings, but fearing negative judgment to the point that a person goes to great lengths to avoid those situations or endures them with intense distress. This fear is out of proportion to the actual threat and causes noticeable impairment in daily life, such as in work, school, or relationships.

This description captures the defining feature: the fear stems from worry about embarrassment or being judged, in social or performance contexts. Other options describe fears that are about specific objects or situations (like heights or spiders) and don’t involve the social evaluation aspect that defines social phobia.