Social Anxiety

Question 1

What are the three assumptions in the clark and wells model of SAD?

Answer 1

1. Excessively high standards for social performance (e.g., “I must sound interesting/intelligent”)
2. Conditional beliefs regarding consequences (e.g., if I blush or stutter people will think I’m weird.”)
3. Unconditional negative beliefs about self (e.g., “I’m boring/stupid/odd”).

Question 2

According to the Clark and wells model of SAD, what are the three processes that occur when assumptions and perceived social danger are activated by a social situation? (ASR)

Answer 2

1. Attentional shift to bodily sensations and construction of a negative image of self as perceived by others (e.g., “gibbering wreck”)
2. Safety behaviours to protect fro humiliation or rejection (e.g., avoid eye contact, speak quietly)
3. Reviews (i.e., anticipatory catastrophising) and previews (AKA ruminative postmortems - accumulating evidence of social incompetence)

Question 3

Anxiety disorders share common underlying processes, what are some effective interventions that are transdiagnostic? (Sour apple candy refreshes wonderfully)

Answer 3

Dropping safety behaviours
Decreasing avoidance
Behavioural experiments
Redirecting attention
Cognitive restructuring
Cutting out rumination and worry
Reflect on images and memory

Question 4

According to Clark and wells model of SAD, what are the predisposing factors for SAD

Answer 4

Genetic vulnerability
Temperament (behavioural disinhibition - heightened sensitivity to novel stimuli and avoid unfamiliar situations and people);
Childhood adversity
Parental overprotection
Development of core beliefs (the world is a dangerous place, you must do things perfectly)
Humiliating childhood experience

Question 5

What does the shifting attention intervention for SAD involve?

Answer 5

Shift attention from self to others so they can accurately observe feedback from others and process potentially positive feedback

Question 6

What are the 5 treatment interventions for SAD deriving fro Clark and wells model of SAD?

Answer 6

1. Collaborative formulation of SAD
2. Relaxation and stress management training (I.e., distraction or controlled breathing)
3. Behavioural experiments (e.g., video recording of social interaction with and without safety behaviour)
4. Shifting attention and breaking own rules (e.g., pause during a presentation and see how people react)
5. Cognitive restructuring