Social Phobia Scale

Does socializing, or even being perceived by others, terrify you? Take this test to find out if you have 'social phobia.'

By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | December 18, 2024

Social phobia, also known as social anxiety disorder, arises when people experience fear or discomfort in social situations due to concerns about being embarrassed or scrutinized. This kind of anxiety can significantly affect a person's emotional well-being, and even every day functions.

If these feelings are left to fester, they can lead to long-term challenges in personal and professional settings. People with social phobia find themselves avoiding social situations or enduring them with overwhelming anxiety. Over time these people tend to isolate involuntarily, which can lead to them missing out on life's many opportunities.

Over time, this avoidance can contribute to low self-esteem, a fear of failure and difficulties asserting themselves in personal or professional relationships. This creates a cycle of self-doubt, which only creates further withdrawal that impacts their ability to achieve their full potential.

The Social Phobia Scale acts as a framework for identifying patterns of anxiety and avoidance in social contexts. Importantly, it offers users insights into how debilitating their social phobia may be. By pinpointing specific triggers and behaviors, the scale can help individuals recognize how social anxiety influences their daily lives. It is a tool for those seeking to understand the roots of their discomfort and take the first steps towards personal growth.

You can take this test here. Follow all of the steps to receive your results.

Step 1: Rate the following statements based on how much you agree with them on a scale of strongly disagree to strongly agree.

1. I become anxious if I have to write in front of other people.

2. I become self-conscious when using public toilets.

3. I can suddenly become aware of my own voice and of others listening to me.

4. I get nervous that people are staring at me as I walk down the street.

5. I fear I may blush when I am with others.

6. I feel self-conscious if I have to enter a room where others are already seated.

7. I worry about shaking or trembling when I'm watched by other people.

8. I would get tense if I had to sit facing other people on a bus or a train.

9. I get panicky that others might see me to be faint, sick or ill.

10. I would find it difficult to drink something if in a group of people.

11. It would make me feel self-conscious to eat in front of a stranger at a restaurant.

12. I am worried people will think my behaviour odd.

13. I would get tense if I had to carry a tray across a crowded cafeteria.

14. I worry I'll lose control of myself in front of other people.

15. I worry I might do something to attract the attention of others.

16. When in an elevator I am tense if people look at me.

17. I can feel conspicuous standing in a queue.

18. I get tense when I speak in front of other people.

19. I worry my head will shake or nod in front of others.

20. I feel awkward and tense if I know people are watching me.

Step 2: Enter your age, gender, region, and first name so we can provide you with a detailed report that compares your test scores to people similar to you.

What is your age?

What is your gender?

What region of the world do you live in?

What is your first name?

Step 3: Check to make sure you've provided answers to all of the statements/questions above. Once you've done that, click the button below to send your responses to Awake Therapy's Lead Psychologist, Mark Travers, Ph.D. He will provide you with an overview of how you scored relative to others (all answers are anonymized and confidential to protect users' privacy). He can also answer any follow-up questions you may have.

References: Mattick, R. P., & Clarke, J. C. (1998). Development and validation of measures of social phobia scrutiny fear and social interaction anxiety. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 36(4), 455-470. doi: 10.1016/S0005-7967(97)10031-6