title: Face to face versus Facebook: does exposure to social networking web sites augment or attenuate physiological arousal among the socially anxious?
abstract: The present study tested two competing hypotheses about the effect of Facebook exposure on the physiological arousal level of participants who then encountered the stimulus person in a face-to-face situation. Facebook exposure may attenuate later arousal by providing increased comfort and confidence, but it is also possible that Facebook exposure will augment arousal, particularly among the socially anxious. Participants completed a measure of social anxiety and were exposed to a stimulus person via Facebook, face to face, or both. Galvanic skin response was recorded during the exposures to the stimulus person. Results were consistent with the augmentation hypothesis: a prior exposure on Facebook will lead to increased arousal during a face-to-face encounter, particularly for those high in social anxiety.
authors.affiliation: 1 Benedictine University at Mesa , Mesa, Arizona.
authors.forename: Shannon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Rauch
authors.forename: Cara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Strobel
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bella
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Odachowski
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bloom
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior; D061108:Social Media; D060756:Social Networking; D055815:Young Adult