The Relationship of Social Anxiety and Victimization
In Mulder and Van Aken’s Socially Anxious Children at Risk for Victimization: The Role of Personality (2014), the authors explore the relationships of victimization of socially anxious kids and their personality traits. Social anxiety was defined as being fearful of negative evaluation by peers, especially in areas of physical appearance or social status. Victimization was defined as aggressive and harmful behavior, either verbally or physically. The researchers hypothesized and find that some personality traits can be a shield against victimization in children identified as being socially anxious, whereas other personality traits may increase their risk. Some avoidant personality traits …show more content…
Extraversion may work as a shield against victimization because despite being socially anxious, extraverted children may be better able to cope with negative environments, thus increasing their social competence and amount of friends, and so thereby reducing their risk of victimization. They are also report being happier, therefore, unlike their introverted peers who fear negative evaluations and so become more withdrawn (increasing possible victimization), extraverted kids are better able to interpret their social anxiety and therefore reduce victimization. Agreeableness is also a positive factor against victimization of socially anxious children, particularly in boys, though this might be because of the type of victimization studied (more overt and less relational). Agreeableness in boys might provide more constructive means in reducing confrontation and conflicts, which may reduce victimization. Socially anxious children with higher levels of agreeableness and extraversion are also more likely to development better friendships, which serves as a protective force against victimization. The other three personality traits studied did not influence the relationship between social anxiety and victimization. When looking at gender, there is a small increase of victimization in children who are open to experience, most likely because they are generally interested in arts or culture and therefore are an increased target because they may appear nerdy or weak. The findings of this study are useful for preventative measures. Teachers can look for signs of children who may be socially anxious, or possess low levels of agreeableness or extraversion. With this knowledge, teachers can teach children how to act more extraverted or agreeable—not change them, but rather equip them with such techniques as to reduce
In Mulder and Van Aken’s Socially Anxious Children at Risk for Victimization: The Role of Personality (2014), the authors explore the relationships of victimization of socially anxious kids and their personality traits. Social anxiety was defined as being fearful of negative evaluation by peers, especially in areas of physical appearance or social status. Victimization was defined as aggressive and harmful behavior, either verbally or physically. The researchers hypothesized and find that some personality traits can be a shield against victimization in children identified as being socially anxious, whereas other personality traits may increase their risk. Some avoidant personality traits …show more content…
Extraversion may work as a shield against victimization because despite being socially anxious, extraverted children may be better able to cope with negative environments, thus increasing their social competence and amount of friends, and so thereby reducing their risk of victimization. They are also report being happier, therefore, unlike their introverted peers who fear negative evaluations and so become more withdrawn (increasing possible victimization), extraverted kids are better able to interpret their social anxiety and therefore reduce victimization. Agreeableness is also a positive factor against victimization of socially anxious children, particularly in boys, though this might be because of the type of victimization studied (more overt and less relational). Agreeableness in boys might provide more constructive means in reducing confrontation and conflicts, which may reduce victimization. Socially anxious children with higher levels of agreeableness and extraversion are also more likely to development better friendships, which serves as a protective force against victimization. The other three personality traits studied did not influence the relationship between social anxiety and victimization. When looking at gender, there is a small increase of victimization in children who are open to experience, most likely because they are generally interested in arts or culture and therefore are an increased target because they may appear nerdy or weak. The findings of this study are useful for preventative measures. Teachers can look for signs of children who may be socially anxious, or possess low levels of agreeableness or extraversion. With this knowledge, teachers can teach children how to act more extraverted or agreeable—not change them, but rather equip them with such techniques as to reduce