Abstract

The present study had three purposes. First, it was examined to know which irrational beliefs was involved in social anxiety. Second, it was investigated the relative potency and dimensions of social anxiety - provoking situations. Third, it was examined to know which irrational beliefs was involved in each dimensions of social anxiety-provoking situations. The social Anxeity and Distress Scale, Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, Irratoinal belief Test and Social Anxiety-provoking Situations Questionnaire were administered to 623 introductory psychology students. The results of this study were as follows : Social anxiety was explained by catastrophizing, personal perfection, demand for approval, anxious overconcern and helplessness. Social anxiety-provoking situations were divided into mundane social situations, social identity-threatening situations, and non-threatening self-exposure situations. Among these, social anxiety was higher in social identity threatening situations than in other situations. As a result of investigating situation-specific irrational beliefs, mundane social situations was predicted best by anxious overconcern, social identity-threatening situations was predicted best by catastrophizing, and non-threatening self-exposure situations was little predicted by irrational beliefs. These findings were discussed in terms of the understanding of social anxiety and the implications for intervention.