What Is Social Phobia

Does this scenario sound familiar? Jasmine is a 38 year-old woman with two children. She is worried continuously about whether her house is neat and clean enough. She frequently stays up until three in the morning scrubbing and straightening things up. In addition, Jasmine is painfully shy and has few friends. She worries about what people think about her and is terribly afraid of rejection. Some of her neighbors get together, once a week with the children to play in a nearby park with each other, but Jasmine seldom joins them. She feels dizzy and embarrassed with the neighbors around and most importantly she thinks the will judge her. If these description sounds like someone you know, you may already know something about social phobia. In this research paper, I will discuss the term Social Phobia, how common the disorder is, who suffers from the disorder, causes, symptoms, signs, and treatments with this disorder, then finally, I will conclude.

According to a Psychology text by Lester A. Lefton, Social Phobia is defined as an anxiety disorder characterized by fear of, and desire to avoid situations in which a person might be exposed to scrutiny by others and might behave in an embarrassing or humiliating way (Lefton 2000). The disorder is characterized by overwhelming and excessive self consciousness in social situations. The person has a fear of being criticized or to be scrutinized negatively by others. Social Phobia may occur in most situations in an individual's life or it may be very specific, such as fear of public speaking, eating in public, writing in social setting, or using public restrooms. Often individuals avoid the situations that cause them discomfort. Social Phobia is the third most common psychiatric disorder.

According to a recent research, about 3.7% of U.S population ages 18 to 54 which is approximately 5.3 million has this anxiety disorder. Children and adults suffer significant difficulties as a result of social phobia; this phobia is now more prevalent than ever before. More than 8% of adults and 5% of children suffer from social phobia at some point in their lives. The disorder is ranked as the third most common mental disorder in the United States. In a recent study, it was found that Muslim students had the highest prevalence of social phobia among religious groups and it was higher in lower social classes, with the rates increasing when monthly income decreased.

The onset of social phobia is usually in teens; although, some people have had it as long as they can remember, others feelings occur later in their lives. Some studies show that social phobia is more common in women than in men; however, in most clinical setting, the sexes are about equally represented. Children who show "selective mutism", (refusing to speak in certain situations) may suffer from a form of social phobia. Little research has examined the fears and anxieties of minority group children, although some suggest that Caucasian children experience fewer fears than African American children. For some, social phobia is confined to a few very specific situations, such as speaking in public. For some, social phobia is confined to a few very specific situations, such as speaking in public. For others, social phobia is more pervasive and extends in al social situations.

There is no single explanation to the causes of social phobia; however, research has attempted to define the causes in various ways. Scientists have not pinpointed the actual causes of social phobia, which tends to be passed among families. Some research implicates that the small structure in the brain called the amygdale may cause the symptoms of social phobia. The amygdale is believed to be a central site in the brain that controls responses. Animal studies are adding to the evidence that social phobia can be inherited. In fact, research supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, recently identified the site of a gene in mice that affects fearfulness. Other researchers are investigating the environment's influence on the development of social phobia. People with social phobia may acquire their fear from observing the behavior and consequences of others, a process called observational learning or social modeling.

Most people with social phobia have a strong fear of being humiliated or embarrassed in front of other people. They feel as though every one is watching them until the blush, sweat or otherwise show their fear; often believing that showing anxiety is a sign of weakness. They also believe that people are more confident and competent than they really are. Physical symptoms are often accompanied with the intense anxiety. People with social phobia experience symptoms that include blushing, profuse sweating, trembling, and other symptoms of this anxiety, may include difficulty talking, and nausea. Other signs associated with this phobia include