Heterosocial Anxiety in College Females: A Biased Interactions Treatment

Abstract

A behavioral exposure procedure based on Bem's (1972) self-perception theory using prearranged purposefully biased social interactions with members of the opposite sex was employed to treat heterosocial anxiety in college females. Additionally, subjects received either a positive or negative expectancy for treatment outcome. Results for 20 heterosocially anxious females indicated the biased interaction exposure technique was unaffected by expectancy and caused significant changes in subject's perceived levels of heterosocial anxiety. Improvement also occurred on a self-report (state anxiety) measure and two behavioral (interpersonal distance and conversational silence) measures taken while subjects were in the presence of a male confederate. These results suggested the biased exposure treatment-where the focus was on the observation of one's own successful performance in an area where difficulty is normally encountered-was effective for reducing anxiety in college females. Results are discussed in terms of the unique aspects of this procedure and the possible situations where it might be most useful.

Department(s)

Psychological Science

Comments

Frances M. Montgomery published as Frances M. Haemmerlie

Keywords and Phrases

Adult; Anxiety; Behavior Therapy; Case Report; Central Nervous System; Human; Sex; Sex Difference; Social Behavior; Therapy; Female; Interpersonal Relations; Set (Psychology)

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0145-4455

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 1983 SAGE Publications Inc., All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 1983

Link to Full Text

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