CAROL LEE
Behavioral Engagement
Problem: Low behavioral engagement in exposures (engagement in anxiety provoking situations and behaviors), despite evidence that exposures reduce long-term social anxiety
1.
Purpose & Method: Survey study examining self-efficacy, personal value, and social acceptability as mechanisms leading to behavioral engagement in social situations despite high social anxiety.
http://dx.doi.org/10.47626/2237-6089-2020-0129
Outcome: Self-efficacy and personal value were the strongest correlates of behavioral engagement. Provides evidence that increasing self-efficacy and/or personal value of engaging in an anxiety-provoking behavior increases engagement in that behavior.
2.
Purpose & Method: Randomized controlled experiment examining the impact of increasing the personal value of engaging in a social anxiety-provoking behavior (recording a speech for a blog).
Outcome: Individuals in the personal value condition had higher rates of behavioral engagement. Having individuals reflect on why engaging in an anxiety-provoking behavior is personally important to them increases the likelihood of them engaging in that behavior