Which of the following defines social anxiety disorder?

Social anxiety disorder is characterized by an intense fear of social situations where an individual may be subjected to scrutiny or judgment from others. This definition captures the essence of the disorder, highlighting how profound the anxiety can be in situations where social interaction or performance is expected. People with social anxiety disorder often experience excessive worry about embarrassment or humiliation, which can lead to avoidance of social situations and significantly impact their daily lives.

While mild discomfort in unfamiliar social settings, fear of public speaking only, and a general fear of interaction with strangers might reflect aspects of social anxiety, they do not encompass the full intensity and breadth of social anxiety disorder. The distinction lies in the severity of the fear and its pervasive nature across multiple social contexts, making the first option the most accurate and comprehensive definition of this mental health condition.