Interpersonal motivations in social anxiety: Weakened approach and intensified avoidance motivations for affiliation and social-rank

Previous research examining the relationship between social anxiety (SA) and approach and avoidance motivations has been rather limited, and the results – contradictory. We sought to investigate the motivational profiles in SA while differentiating between approach and avoidance motivations in the social-rank and affiliation domains. Based on cognitive, evolutionary, and interpersonal models of SA, we expected that SA will be positively associated with affiliation and social-rank avoidance motivations, and negatively associated with affiliation and social-rank approach motivations. To examine these hypotheses, we conducted three studies. In Study 1 (N = 212), SA was uniquely associated with higher avoidance and lower approach motivations in the domain social-rank. In Study 2 (N = 648), SA was uniquely associated with lower approach motivations in both interpersonal domains. In Study 3 (N = 366), SA was associated with higher avoidance and lower approach motivations in both interpersonal domains. The findings in all three studies were significant above and beyond depression severity and age. These results highlight the importance of motivational profiles for the understanding of SA, which may be useful for the construction of personalized treatments for this condition.