What psychological mechanisms can cause strong discomfort with being observed in everyday social situations?
Hello,
I’m trying to understand a general psychological phenomenon and would appreciate an explanation from a scientific perspective.
What are the known psychological mechanisms that can lead to strong discomfort or anxiety when a person feels observed or evaluated by others in everyday situations (for example, eating in public or being the focus of attention in social settings)?
In particular, I’m interested in why some people may experience intrusive self-focused imagery or heightened self-awareness in situations where they feel visible to others, and why this can become persistent across different types of social contexts.
What does research in social psychology or cognitive psychology say about how and why this kind of heightened self-monitoring or fear of evaluation develops and persists?
Thank you.