COGNITIVE ASSESSMENT OF SOCIAL ANXIETY - AFFECTIVE AND BEHAVIORAL-CORRELATES

Issues in the cognitive assessment of extreme social anxiety in adults were explored, with a major focus on the relationship between and utility of structured questionnaire and protocol analysis methods. The assessment of underlying cognitive factors associated with concerns over evaluation by others was also of interest, as were the affective and behavioral correlates of cognitive variables. Reports of negative thoughts on a thought listing prior to an actual conversation were found to be related to negative self-statements on a structured questionnaire (Social Interaction Self-Statement Test) filled out after the interaction, and both measures showed an asymmetric preponderance of negative over positive thoughts. Thoughts on the SISST were related to irrational beliefs and fear of negative evaluation, social anxiety, and global behavioral ratings of the interaction made by both partners and judges. The lack of significant correlations between thoughts on the SISST and microbehavior ratings, and between thought listings and other cognitive, affective, and behavioral measures, underscores the utility of structured self-statement measures and global behavioral assessment strategies. © 1990 Plenum Publishing Corporation.