Cultural Variations in the Manifestation of Social Anxiety

First draft

Noelia 梅雅妮

English Department, Group C

Advance writing

Shiao-Hui Chan

Due date: December 12th 2023

 Outline

Introduction:
Brief overview of social anxiety as a universal experience

Paragraph 1
- Manifestation of Social anxiety
Cultural factors influence individuals' perceptions, and interpretations greatly impact social
anxiety symptoms

Paragraph 2
- Expression and communication
Culture plays a significant role in how social anxiety symptoms are expressed and
communicated.

Paragraph 3
- Treatment and management
Influenced by factors such as societal norms, cultural values, and mental health resources

Conclusion:
- Recap of the key points
 Outside the busy restaurant, Diene was paralyzed with nerves, dreading the prospect

of facing the noisy crowd for the Customer Appreciation Dinner. Though Diene initially felt

alone in her fear of humiliation and self-consciousness, Victor's honesty comforted her: .

Wwe all fear judgment, rejection, and scrutiny in social interactions. Recognizing that

anxious apprehension about others’ perceptions transcends culture, gender, and disposition,

Diene gathered her courage and entered the restaurant with Victor. Social anxiety that Diene

experienced is a widely studied psychological phenomenon that pertains to the fear and

distress experienced in social situations. Various cultural factors contribute to social anxiety

symptoms across a wide range of societies, despite being recognized as a separate clinical

diagnosis. Social anxiety disorder manifests, expresses, and is treated differently across

cultures because of societal expectations, communication practices, and perspectives

regarding mental health support.

Social expectations are shaped by a variety of cultural factors such as values, beliefs,

norms, and socialization practices. For instance, in collectivistic cultures that prioritize

interdependence and harmony within the group, individuals may experience social anxiety as

a result of fear of judgment and negative evaluation by others. As they strive to maintain

positive social relationships and avoid social conflict, they may perceive even minor social

blunders as highly significant and distressing, leading to heightened anxiety. Alternatively, in

individualistic cultures that emphasize autonomy and individual achievement, social anxiety

may manifest differently. Instead of fearing criticism or judgment, individuals in such

cultures may experience anxiety in situations where their competence or performance is at

stake. It is therefore evident that cultural factors, including cultural values and socialization

practices, play a major role in shaping the manifestation of social anxiety by influencing

individuals' beliefs, expectations, and interpretations of social situations.

 Cultural norms play a significant role in shaping how individuals perceive

and articulate their social anxiety symptoms. There is a clear illustration of this point in

collectivist cultures, which emphasize group harmony and conformity. Individuals may be

less inclined to openly express their anxiety or seek help for fear of bringing shame or

embarrassment to themselves or their families. While individuals with social anxiety may be

less likely to disclose their symptoms and seek support in individualistic cultures that value

self-expression and assertiveness. Furthermore, cultural differences can also influence the

communication styles used to convey social anxiety. In some cultures, indirect

communication or non-verbal cues may be preferred when expressing discomfort or distress,

whereas, in more direct cultures, individuals may explicitly verbalize their

anxieties. Providing appropriate and effective social anxiety interventions requires an

understanding and appreciation of cultural variations in expression and communication.

Treatment and management of social anxiety differ across cultures, which is crucial

for developing effective and culturally sensitive interventions. It is common for people from

collectivist cultures, such as Asian societies, to experience social anxiety through group

therapy or familial support systems since they emphasize the importance of maintaining

harmonious relationships within their communities and their interconnectedness. Western

cultures, on the other hand, tend to emphasize individual autonomy and the value of

independence. In these cultures, treatment approaches tend to focus more on individual

therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy. However, it is important to note that these

cultural variations in treatment strategies may also be influenced by other factors, such as the

level of stigma surrounding mental health issues or the overall availability of mental health

services within a specific culture.

Social anxiety is more prevalent in collective cultures due to the emphasis on

conformity and the fear of disappointing others. While Western cultures may focus more on
public speaking and meeting new people, Eastern cultures may prioritize hierarchical

relationships and strict social norms. Moreover, there are cultural differences in the

expression and communication of social anxiety, with some cultures suppressing emotions,

while others allow them. As a result, cultural context matters when assessing and treating

social anxiety, helping to provide more culturally sensitive interventions and treatments.

References

British Psychological Society (UK). (2013). SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER. Social Anxiety

Disorder - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK327674/

Brockveld, K. C., Perini, S., & Rapee, R. M. (2014). Social anxiety and social anxiety

disorder across cultures. In Elsevier eBooks (pp. 141–

158). https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-394427-6.00006-6

Social Anxiety Disorder: recognition, assessment and treatment. (2013).

PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25577940/