Loved Ones' photos may help tame social anxiety fears

This study tests whether seeing a picture of a supportive friend or family member helps people with social anxiety unlearn fear more effectively. Researchers will compare fear responses in 100 participants (50 with social anxiety, 50 healthy) after pairing threatening cues with either a support figure's image or a stranger's smile. The goal is to see if social support boosts fear extinction, a key process in anxiety treatment.