Fear of negative evaluation

Fear of negative evaluation (FNE) or fear of failure,[1] also known as atychiphobia,[2] is a psychological construct reflecting "apprehension about others' evaluations, distress over negative evaluations by others, and the expectation that others would evaluate one negatively". The construct and a psychological test to measure it were defined by David Watson and Ronald Friend in 1969.[3] FNE is related to specific personality dimensions, such as anxiousness, submissiveness, and social avoidance. People who score high on the FNE scale are highly concerned with seeking social approval or avoiding disapproval by others and may tend to avoid situations where they have to undergo evaluations. High FNE subjects are also more responsive to situational factors.[4] This has been associated with conformity, pro-social behavior, and social anxiety.[5]

  1. ^ "Fear of Failure (Atychiphobia): Causes & Treatment". Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  2. ^ Ph.D, Irena Milosevic; Ph.D, Randi E. McCabe (2015-03-03). Phobias: The Psychology of Irrational Fear: The Psychology of Irrational Fear. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-61069-576-3.
  3. ^ Watson, D.; Friend, R. (1969). "Measurement of Social-evaluative Anxiety". Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 33 (4): 448–57. doi:10.1037/h0027806. PMID 5810590.
  4. ^ Leary, M. (1983). "A Brief Version of the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale" (PDF). Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 9 (3): 371–75. doi:10.1177/0146167283093007. S2CID 144875099. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  5. ^ Schlenker, B (1980). Impression Management: The Self-concept, Social Identity, and Interpersonal Relations. Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing.