Social Attention in the Field

Much of the previous research on social approach-avoidance behavior has heavily relied on highly controlled experimental tasks (Risko et al., 2012; Chen et al., 2020). However, real-world overt behavior in field settings can significantly deviate from responses in artificial laboratory environments (Rubo et al., 2020; Großekathöfer et al., 2022). Therefore, this project utilized wearable technology, including mobile eye-tracking and ambulatory assessment of autonomic responses, to investigate physiological arousal and approach-avoidance behavior towards other individuals in pre-screened participants with varying social anxiety traits.

In the initial phase, we focused on natural exploration behavior outside of the controlled laboratory environment and examined movement trajectories, visual scanning patterns, and physiological responses concerning social anxiety and the mere presence of other individuals. In the second part of the study, participants engaged in a staged social interaction with a confederate, following a methodology similar to Rösler et al. (2021). In this context, we once again explored how trait markers of social anxiety influenced visual scanning patterns and physiological responses in social situations.

Finally, we were interested in determining whether the gaze-modulating effect of eye camouflage observed by Dudarev et al. (2022) could be extended to social anxiety, where socially anxious individuals adapt their gaze behavior to conform with social norms based on the visibility of their own eyes.

While social anxiety did not modulate the choice of route during the walk phase, socially anxious participants avoided gazing at other individuals in non-interactive situations, i.e., during the walk and the waiting phase. In contrast, during actual interaction, they showed increased visual attention towards their interactions partner’s face. Across all experimental phases, highly socially anxious individuals showed elevated heart rates, but this effect was independent of the social context.

This study showed that social anxiety affects social exploration behavior not in a way of general avoidance, but rather in nuanced adaptations depending on the concrete situation, likelihood of interaction and associated socio-evaluative threat.

We are now working on even more interactive settings with the concurrent eye tracking of several interaction partners and staged interactions in real-world environments.

Collaborators: Janna Teigeler, Matthias Gamer