The Shyness & Social Anxiety Workbook
186SITUATIONAL ROLE-PLAY
A situational role-play  is an exposure practice in which you rehearse being in a simulated 
social situation before actually entering the real situation. Role-play can provide you 
with exposure practice without creating the same social risks that are sometimes present 
in the actual situation. In other words, you have less to lose during simulated exposures, 
compared with real-life exposures. Below are some examples of how to use situational 
role-plays to improve your level of comfort, as well as to improve your skills for dealing 
with particular social situations:
UÊBefore giving a formal presentation at work, practice giving your talk to 
several friends and relatives. Ask your simulated audience for feedback. If 
possible, repeat this role-play practice several times.
UÊIf you’re nervous about making small talk with strangers at parties, ask 
your partner (or any close friend or relative) to pretend to be an unfamiliar 
person. Imagine that you have both arrived early for a party and are waiting 
in the living room while the host prepares food in the kitchen. Practice 
engaging in small talk, as if you have just met for the ﬁrst time.
UÊIf you have an upcoming job interview, you can prepare by having friends 
or relatives simulate interviewing you for a job.
UÊIn order to practice asking another individual out on a date, you could 
rehearse what you might say with a close friend or relative.