{
  "id": 10203129,
  "title": "A simple tactic can increase likability for socially anxious people, new research suggests",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/a-simple-tactic-can-increase-likability-for-socially-anxious-people",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-27T11:00:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PsyPost",
    "slug": "psypost",
    "url": "https://www.psypost.org/how-sharing-personal-stories-can-increase-likability-for-socially-anxious-people/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "People with social anxiety often fear that others will judge them harshly, causing them to avoid sharing personal details. A recent study reveals that opening up about personal experiences actually increases how much others like a person and want to interact with them, regardless of the speaker’s anxiety level. The research, published in The Journal of Psychology, also suggests that the listener’s personality traits play a significant role in their positive evaluations. Social anxiety is characterized by an intense fear of negative evaluation in social situations. Those with this condition frequently engage in avoidance behaviors, such as avoiding eye contact or withdrawing physically, which can lead to a cycle of misunderstanding and rejection. Self-disclosure, the act of sharing personal thoughts and feelings, is crucial for building trust and warmth in relationships. However, socially anxious individuals often restrict this behavior, fearing negative judgment. Researchers from the University of Bucharest investigated how varying levels of self-disclosure affect the perception of socially anxious individuals. They also examined how the listener's personality traits influence their judgments. The study involved 136 online evaluators who rated four university speakers – two with diagnosed social anxiety and two without – at four stages: a photograph, a generic personal introduction, a positive personal story, and a negative personal experience. The results showed that sharing personal stories improved the speakers’ likability scores, benefiting both those with and without social anxiety. Even when speakers shared negative experiences, evaluators rated them more favorably, perceiving them as more approachable. Interestingly, the evaluators' own social anxiety and need for affiliation significantly impacted their ratings. Those with higher social anxiety and a strong need for affiliation were more lenient in their evaluations, viewing the speakers more positively across all scenarios. The study suggests that individuals craving social acceptance might evaluate others more favorably to reduce conflict and foster connection.",
  "summary": "People with social anxiety often fear judgment and hold back in conversation. A new study finds that simply sharing personal experiences can boost how likable they seem to others, regardless of their anxiety levels.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}