Introduction
The article concerns the behavioral aspects of people who suffer from social anxiety disorder (SAD) before they engage in a relationship. To investigate this subject, Rozen and Aderka (2022) conducted a study based on previous findings that state that people with SAD have more difficulties in developing and engaging in long-term relationships. More specifically, this study focuses on swiping decisions (simulating a dating app setting) made by participants with and without SAD.
Hypothesis
The first hypothesis of the study is that people with SAD are less likely to swipe right (accepting a candidate). The second hypothesis states that women would swipe right less frequently. The third hypothesis is that individuals without SAD would swipe right on smiling people more frequently than individuals with SAD. The fourth hypothesis states that individuals with SAD would seek less information on candidates. The fifth hypothesis claims that repeated exposure to pictures would affect people without SAD. The sixth hypothesis is that people with SAD would provide less happy pictures and short descriptions of themselves. The seventh hypothesis is that women would provide more joyful pictures than men.
Methods
The sample of the study included 40 participants with SAD and 40 without it, each of them identifying as heterosexual. 50% were men, 50% were women, and their ages ranged from 18 to 33. The study was conducted through self-reports on anxiety made by the participants, who then examined various pictures of potential interaction interests. For the sake of the results’ authenticity, the participants were led to believe that they would meet one of the presented candidates.
Findings
The findings show that individuals with SAD do not respond to affiliative cues (such as smiling) the same way as individuals without it. People with SAD were less likely to provide happy pictures and extensive self-descriptions and needed less information on the presented candidates. Women reacted more positively towards smiling pictures, but were generally more selective and cautious. Repeated exposure to pictures proved to be more efficient for the participants without SAD.
Importance of the Study
The research is of great importance for individuals with SAD, mostly in improving their social life. It shows the necessity of focusing on pre-meeting aspects of relationships in therapy, as well as possible applications of online tools in mental health studies. Several previous findings were linked to support the hypotheses, mainly those that identified biases related to SAD, such as information-seeking bias and avoidance tendencies. The article concludes that the amalgamation of biases can hinder a person’s love life and further their anxiety and lack of self-worth.
Limitations
The study has several limitations which can muddle the obtained results. The study setting was not naturalistic, and therefore, it is possible that real-life aspects are different from the ones perceived in the article. The meeting part of the experiment would be beneficial to fully identify which biases have more impact on people’s interactions. In addition, it would be necessary to clarify to the participant the nature of the interaction (romantic or platonic) to avoid heightening anxiety.
Future Research
Future research can focus on other demographic factors that are relevant to the interaction realm. The subject of race and ethnicity could be explored to determine which biases are more prevalent for a specific race or ethnicity. In addition, a wider age range could be employed, for example, from 18 to 45. This would further the development of efficient therapeutic methods that focus on the building of confidence and self-worth for a broader spectrum of people.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the given article provides a thorough insight into biases and their manifestation among people with social anxiety disorder. It shows that people with SAD are less likely to swipe right, are less responsive to social affiliation cues, and are prone to be reserved and unenthusiastic about receiving additional information. Women are more engaged in social affiliation; however, they tend to be more selective and cautious.
Reference
Rozen, N., & Aderka, I. M. (2022). Swipe right, swipe left: Initial interactions in social anxiety disorder. Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, 131(5), 435–446.