Mental representation of observable attributes in people with social phobia

Cognitive models of social phobia stress the importance of a negatively biased mental representation of ones social performance and appearance in maintenance of the disorder. People with social phobia (N=57) and non-clinical controls (N=41) engaged in a public speech and also completed several measures of perceived attributes including speech performance, physical attractiveness, and personal performance ability in several interpersonal areas. Independent observers also rated participants' speech performance and physical attractiveness. Relative to observers' ratings, individuals with social phobia reported significantly lower quality of speech performance and physical attractiveness than did non-clinical individuals. People with social phobia also reported significantly lower perceived ability in other areas of performance and appearance. These data held even after statistically controlling for levels of depression.