Abstract:

Attention bias is an important factor in the maintenance of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). Attentional vigilance, attentional avoidance, and difficulty in disengagement are the most widely studied and discussed ones. With the deepening of research, some researchers have suggested that the attention mode of SAD individuals is not a single and static mode, and it is more likely to switch between different attentional modes, which is a dynamic process. Based on relevant research results and theoretical assumptions, it is speculated that the attentional bias of SAD individuals will change dynamically with the increased anxiety level and impaired attention control ability, from attentional vigilance to the attention avoidance and difficulty in disengagement. This view needs further research to confirm and specify more targeted interventions based on the results of the study.

Key words: social anxiety, attention bias, attentional vigilance, attentional avoidance, difficulty in disengagement