The Shyness & Social Anxiety Workbook
34How Learning Contributes to Social Anxiety
A large number of studies suggests that learning plays an important role in the 
development of fear. We learn to fear objects and situations through three main routes 
(Rachman 1976). First, directly experiencing a trauma or some negative consequence in 
a particular situation can lead to fear. For example, being bitten by a dog can teach a 
person to be afraid of dogs. Second, observing other people who are afraid of a situation 
can teach a person to be nervous. So, people may be more nervous behind the wheel 
of a car if they grew up with a parent who was an anxious driver. Finally, hearing or 
reading about the dangers of a particular situation can help to cause or maintain a per -
son’s fear. For instance, reading about airline crashes can help to strengthen a person’s 
fear of ﬂying.
LEARNING BY DIRECT EXPERIENCE
A history of negative experiences in social situations can increase a person’s shyness 
and social anxiety. For example, in a study from our center, people with social anxiety 
disorder were more likely to describe a history of severe teasing in childhood than were 
people with other anxiety problems (McCabe et al. 2003). In addition to teasing, other 
examples of social traumas include:
UÊBeing bullied by other children while growing up
UÊHaving parents, friends, teachers, or employers who are overly critical
UÊDoing something embarrassing in a social situation (such as making an 
obvious mistake, vomiting, having a panic attack, and so on)
In the space below, list examples of negative consequences that you have experi -
enced in social situations that may have contributed to or helped to maintain your social 
anxiety.