The Shyness & Social Anxiety Workbook
36In the space below, list examples of informational learning experiences that may have 
contributed to, or helped to maintain, your social anxiety.
Examples of Indirect or Informational Learning Experiences That May Have 
Contributed to My Social Anxiety
Why Only Some People Develop Extreme Social Anxiety
Although negative experiences, observational learning, and informational learning 
are common routes by which people develop fears, they are not enough to explain why 
some people develop social anxiety and others don’t. Almost everyone is exposed to 
negative experiences in social situations. At one time or another most of us are teased. 
We are all exposed to anxiety-provoking messages at home, as well as through the media. 
And yet, not everyone develops a problem with social anxiety. Why is this so?
Most likely, there are other factors that inﬂuence whether a particular person devel -
ops problems with social anxiety following a history of negative social experiences. These 
can include biological factors, such as a person’s genetic makeup. Previous learning expe -
riences and the ways in which someone deals with his or her negative social experiences 
may also inﬂuence the development of fear. For example, a person who is ridiculed the 
ﬁrst time he or she gives a presentation may be more likely to develop a fear of public 
speaking than someone who is ridiculed on a single occasion after having given many 
successful presentations previously. Similarly, someone who is severely teased at school 
may be protected from developing problems with social anxiety if he or she receives 
support from close friends after the episode. 
Finally, avoiding a social situation following a traumatic experience may increase the 
chances of developing social anxiety. You have probably heard that the best thing to do