Biology and Experience: The Possible Contributions to Social Fears

Researchers have not yet identified the exact causes of social anxieties. Biological scientists are actively studying the arenas of biochemical irregularities and genetic predispositions.

Fascinating studies are exploring the social order and interactions of rhesus monkeys, the primates whose brains are most similar to humans. The current outcomes show a clear trend that approximately twenty percent of the rhesus population, both in captivity and in the wild are "behaviorally inhibited," or socially avoidant. (For instance, during mildly stressful times they will exhibit extreme anxiety responses while the rest of the monkey population responds normally.) Researchers are now able to breed behaviorally inhibited young monkeys by matching up the right parents.

Substantial evidence with humans parallels this work with primates. Harvard psychologist Jerome Kagan's groundbreaking research supports his theory that inhibited children are born with a nervous system that is more easily stressed and excited -- including increased heart rate and increased secretion of the stress hormone cortisol -- when they are faced with changes in their social system. Looking at the available research, it appears that of all human personality traits, social shyness and inhibition have the most genetic involvement, including passing this trait on from one generation to the next.

This means it is possible that some of us are preprogrammed to watch for others who are more "dominate" than us, to evaluate the possibility, however slight, of their rejection, and to act in any way needed to indicate our social submissiveness. If our more subtle gestures, such as avoiding eye contact, do not reassure us of our acceptance, then we will act out more primitive responses, by escaping, freezing, or avoiding contact altogether. These responses, when reflective of a biological predisposition, will occur instinctually, with little or no conscious thought.

In addition to the biological factors, childhood learnings can contribute to increasing or decreasing the likelihood of social anxieties in adolescence and adulthood. Kagan found that by age 7 1/2 the physiological differences began to narrow between children who were socially inhibited and those who were outgoing. You might say that as children have more time to get feedback about their degree of acceptance into their family, peer group and community, they learn not to react so fearfully. They discover that they are a welcomed member of the group and others will tolerate their mistakes or weaknesses. Again, this result is matched in the primate population. Remember those rhesus monkeys who were bred to be the most behaviorally inhibited? If the scientists removed them from their natural mother and allowed mothers with stronger and more nurturing traits to raise them, these adolescent monkeys became some of the most socially outgoing!

This, of course, is great news. Even if you are biologically predisposed to develop social anxieties, your life experiences can influence your future comfort with people. You can learn how to loosen up the grip of fear.

The opposite is also true. Childhood experiences may reinforce social anxiety, hesitation and avoidance in those who are already genetically vulnerable to such problems. From parents who are shy or reclusive, children can learn that the world is not so safe. These parents model avoidance as a means to cope with social anxieties.

Any significant adults or peers can influence a vulnerable child in the direction of fear and intimidation. For instance, a third grader "freezes" as she gets up in front of the class for a presentation, her teacher reprimands her and later her classmates tease her. After a meal at the diner, a young boy's mother can chastise him, "You embarrassed me with your behavior," without informing him of his error or of proper restaurant etiquette. One client of mine was ridiculed by his mother for years at the family dinner table. By the time he entered seventh grade, attending his first school with a cafeteria, he felt too threatened to enter the lunch room. When he entered treatment in our clinic at the age of 53 he was on disability insurance from severe social phobia.