Name avoidance in social anxiety: Understanding alexinomia
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Emerging evidence suggests that certain individuals are unable to address others by name, presumably owing to anxiety experienced in social situations. This fear of using personal names has been termed alexinomia and occurs in all forms of relationships and communication. The symptoms of alexinomia show large overlap with the symptoms typically associated with social anxiety, raising the question of whether social anxiety could be the main driving factor of this type of name avoidance. Here, we investigated the relationship between alexinomia and social anxiety by testing name avoidance behavior in a sample of 190 participants with varying degrees of social anxiety. Results showed a strong positive relationship between these two variables. High levels of social anxiety, as measured by two independent standardized psychological instruments (i.e., the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale), were associated with higher degrees of fear-based name avoidance. This was shown by regression analysis as well as analyses of group differences. The findings indicate that alexinomia could be a common symptom in socially anxious individuals that so far has not been discussed in the psychological literature on social anxiety. • We tested if alexinomia, the fear of saying names, is common in social anxiety. • The relationship of alexinomia and social anxiety was tested in 190 participants. • Individuals with social anxiety were significantly more likely to avoid saying names. • This important symptom in social anxiety has so far been overlooked.
Source: Journal of Anxiety Disorders
Authors: Thomas Ditye, Mara Sartorio, Lisa Welleschik
Institution: Sigmund Freud Privatuniversität Wien
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,140
OpenAlex ID: W4405614089