Abstract

This study investigated the distinctive features of social anxiety with concerns for offending others (Taijin Kyofusho; TKS) with respect to the representations of relation, self and others, and dysfunctional self-focus attributes. In study 1, 222 college students were divided into the TKS group, the generalized social anxiety group, and the control group. The differences in relational interdependent self-construal, self and other representations, and dysfunctional self-focus attributes were compared among the groups. The results showed that the generalized social anxiety group and the TKS group were more negative with respect to the social. The TKS group reported the physical attractiveness of self more negatively and presented more dysfunctional self-focus attributes than the other two groups. Furthermore, the TKS group reported relatively more negative self-representations than any other representations. In study 2, 24 participants whose social anxiety level was above the average were randomly assigned to one of the two conditions: the mindfulness condition or distraction condition. They were directed to practice for six days. The results showed that dysfunctional self-focus attributes and TKS were reduced in both the mindfulness group and the distraction group. This study showed the distinctive features of self and other representations and dysfunctional self-focus attributes of TKS, and suggested that mindfulness and distraction are effective for reducing dysfunctional self-focus and TKS. Finally, limitations of this study and suggestions for future studies were discussed.