Is social-evaluative anxiety the same as social anxiety?

Not exactly. Social-evaluative anxiety is the fear of being judged, while social anxiety is broader.

Is this word used in everyday speech?

Not often. It is more common in psychology, education, and academic writing.

Can I use it for exam speaking fear?

Yes, if the main fear is being judged by examiners or classmates.

← Dictionary

social-evaluative-anxiety

/ˌsəʊ.ʃəl ɪˌvæl.juˈeɪ.tɪv æŋˈzaɪ.ə.ti/

IELTSAcademic

noun

A feeling of worry or fear about being judged by other people. It often happens in speaking, presenting, or being watched.

She felt social-evaluative anxiety before her presentation.
Public speaking can trigger social-evaluative anxiety.
He smiled, but the anxiety was still there.

Adinary Nuance

Social-evaluative anxiety is more specific than general anxiety. It is also narrower than social anxiety, which can cover many social fears. Use this term when the main fear is other people judging your performance, appearance, or actions.

In other languages

Vietnamese: lo âu bị đánh giá
Spanish: ansiedad por evaluación social
Chinese: 社会评价焦虑
Japanese: 社会的評価不安
Korean: 사회적 평가 불안

Etymology

This term comes from modern psychology and combines social, evaluative, and anxiety. It became common in academic writing to describe fear of negative judgment from others.

Common phrases

social-evaluative anxietyfear of negative evaluationsocial-evaluative threat

Synonyms

fear of judgment performance anxiety social anxiety

Frequently asked questions

Is social-evaluative anxiety the same as social anxiety?: Not exactly. Social-evaluative anxiety is the fear of being judged, while social anxiety is broader.
Is this word used in everyday speech?: Not often. It is more common in psychology, education, and academic writing.
Can I use it for exam speaking fear?: Yes, if the main fear is being judged by examiners or classmates.