Exploring gender difference in social anxiety Term Paper

Exploring gender difference in social anxiety - Term Paper Example There is a major lack of data relative to the effect of gender on social anxiety. The aim of this study is to investigate the gender difference in social anxiety using results from both self-report questionnaire and experimental setting. The hope is to bring to light information that can be crucial to use to aid those suffering from social anxiety. This study contains one central question that needs to be addressed: â€Å"Is there a gender difference in the experience of social anxiety?† A part of this study also explores whether or not individual experience of social anxiety is fully uncovered by self-report questionnaires. It intends to investigate how male gender roles affect their responses to the questionnaires. It is possible that males tend to underreport their fear and stress than females. This fact alone causes some false information to be conveyed in this area. There is not only an issue with differences in prevalence and clinical samples, the gender experience of social anxiety in men and women also lack discussion. The majority of studies that are completed on social anxiety and social phobia are based on self-report questionnaires. These do not always reveal what the individual with anxiety is actually experiencing, their highs and lows and other crucial information. In considering this topic I suggest that the current findings in gender difference in social anxiety are biased due to gender socialization. The experience of social anxiety provoking situations is the same across genders. Men on an average are equally likely to experience high social anxiety as women. There are a large number of theories and studies done on gender behavioral and psychological differences. For example, the evolutionary neuroandrogenic theory promulgated by Ellis predicts that phobia in general is more common among females than