Social Anxiety Disorder Causes & Risk Factors

The etiology of social phobia is not fully understood, but the likelihood of developing this disorder involves a combination of several factors, such as: environmental, biological, and psychological factors.

Biological factors. This category refers to genetic and neurological risk factors.

Many studies suggest a minor genetic component in developing social phobia, however behavioral inhibition seems to be the highest inherited risk factor. This type of behavior is common among children. Children with behavioral inhibition get easily upset by unfamiliar things, and are more likely to become fearful. By the time they reach adolescent years, these children show an increased risk to develop social phobia.

Social phobia is a fear reaction to something that by itself is not dangerous, but the body and brain perceive it as. This reaction recalls an inborn survival response, called fight-flight response, that helps the human body to deal with dangerous situations. The fight-flight response is controlled by a part of the brain, called the amygdala. Recent brain-imaging studies discovered that those people that frequently experience social anxiety have an overactive amygdala and an underactive prefrontal cortex (involved in social behaviors).

Other studies, focused on the implication of neurotransmitters in the development of social phobia, revealed a strong evidence of dopamine, serotonin, and GABA dysfunction in individuals with social phobia.

Environmental factors. Environmental factors might play a major role in the development of social phobia when the individual is exposed to them at a younger age. Some researchers believe that social phobia is a learned behavior that can be developed by observing, interacting, and imitating significant people (especially parents) that display anxiety or social phobia symptoms. A controlling and overprotective parenting style may also increase the risk of social phobia.

Another hypothesis that tries to explain social phobia considers that individuals can develop social anxiety when they are exposed to negative social experiences such as: being teased, bullied, or particularly embarrassed in public. Researchers also believe that speech or language impairments, sexual or physical abuse, family conflicts, and disfigurement can increase the risk of social phobia.

Psychological factors. Some researchers believe that there is a connection between social phobia and early-life emotional trauma. Also, they consider that a poor attachment between the child and parent or caretaker during early stages of development, can increase the risk of social phobia. Attachment specialists believe that an inadequate bond with parents or caretakers may lead to poor self-regulating skills in stressful or chaotic situations, and lead to social phobia.

Conditions & Diseases: Psychological & Mental Health

Social Anxiety Disorder