Background and Aim: Gray’s reinforcement sensitivity theory presents three general motivational, behavioral and emotional systems. These systems include: a behavioral-inhibition system (BIS), a behavioral-activation system (BAS), and a fight-flight system, which is a reflection of different functional aspects of the nervous system. This study examines the relationship between brain-behavioral systems and social anxiety with regard to gender. Materials and Methods: In this study, 230 high school students (Girls115, boys115) aged 15-17 years old who were studying in 2010-2011 academic year were selected randomly through multistage random sampling. Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), Gray-Wilson Personality Questionnaire (GWPQ) and Carver and White’s BAS/BIS scale were used. Data were analyzed using analysis of regression (stepwise) and independent t-test. Results: Results showed active avoidance, passive avoidance, fight and extinction subscales of GWPQ. Gender can explain 25.9% of social anxiety variation. Also, drive and fun seeking subscales of Carver & White’s BAS/BIS scale accompanied with gender can explain 25.8% of social anxiety variation. Also, results showed that females mean of social anxiety was significantly higher than males. Conclusion: Findings indicated brain-behavioral systems contribute to explain the social anxiety variation. Although, the gender could explain some amount of social anxiety variance, but more studies should be conducted to help careful findings in this field.
Mahdi Hassanvand Amouzadeh, Rassoul Roshan Chesly. Association of brain-behavioral systems activity and gender with social anxiety . pajoohande 2013; 18 (3) :114-121 URL: http://pajoohande.sbmu.ac.ir/article-1-1543-en.html