Which statement best captures a core aspect of social anxiety disorder?

• A. Fear of being judged or scrutinized
• B. Persistent and excessive fear or anxiety in social situations
• C. Fear of heights
• D. Fear of leaving home

Answer: (B)

Social anxiety disorder is characterized by a persistent and excessive fear or anxiety in social situations, often accompanied by worry about being judged or embarrassed, and it leads to avoidance and impairment in daily functioning. The statement describing persistent and excessive fear or anxiety in social situations best captures this pattern because it conveys both the chronic nature and the broad context in which the distress occurs, not just a single concern. While fearing being judged is a common part of the experience, it alone doesn’t specify how widespread and intense the anxiety can be across many social settings or how it interferes with life. The fear of heights and the fear of leaving home point to different anxiety disorders—acrophobia and agoraphobia, respectively—and don’t describe the core social-communication-focused anxiety seen in social anxiety disorder.