Avoidance of social threat: Evidence from eye movements during a public speaking challenge using 360°- video.

ABSTRACT: Social anxiety (SA) is thought to be maintained in part by avoidance of social threat, which exacerbates fear of negative evaluation. Yet, relatively little research has been conducted to evaluate the connection between social anxiety and attentional processes in realistic contexts. The current pilot study examined patterns of attention (eye movements) in a commonly feared social context - public speaking. Participants (N = 84) with a range of social anxiety symptoms gave an impromptu five-minute speech in an immersive 360°-video environment, while wearing a virtual reality headset equipped with eye-tracking hardware. We found evidence for the expected interaction between fear of public speaking and social threat (uninterested vs. interested audience members). Consistent with prediction, p

SUBMITTER: Rubin M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7530106 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature