Post-event processing in social phobia and social anxiety

Abstract

The Clark and Wells (1995) model of social phobia conceptualises post-event processing as one of four processes in the maintenance of this disorder.  According to Clark and Wells (1995), post-event processing involves a review of events following a social interaction, during which individuals with social phobia dwell on anxious feelings and negative cognitions relating to their self-perception.  As a consequence, the social situation is appraised negatively, subsequently exacerbating anxiety and lowering anticipation for success in future social situations.  The literature review examines the limited empirical evidence for the role of post-event processing in the maintenance of social phobia, and considers literature from a number of theoretical perspectives that may serve to further understanding of the function of post-event processing.  These include attention and memory bias, imagery and the observer perspective, rumination in depression, and emotional processing. The empirical study investigated the relationship between self-appraisals of performance and the frequency and valence of post-event processing in individuals high and low in social anxiety.  Following a conversation with an unknown individual, high socially anxious individuals experienced more anxiety, predicted worse performance, underestimated actual performance, and engaged in more post-event processing than low socially anxious participants.  The degree of negative post-event processing was linked to both the extent of social anxiety and negative appraisals of performance both immediately after the conversation task and one week later.  Differnces were also observed in some metacognitive processes.  The results replicate previous research findings and provide further support for Clark and Wells’ (1995) conceptualisation of post-event processing.

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