Generalization of dysregulated empathy from significant others to acquaintances links attachment insecurity to social anxiety disorder

The psychological mechanisms linking attachment insecurity to social anxiety disorder (SAD) are not fully understood. We propose an empathy-based schema generalization model, positing that the association between attachment insecurity and SAD is explained by dysregulated empathy toward significant others, with these patterns generalizing to new relationships. Across four studies (N = 952) with international, Turkish, and Polish samples (including a clinical group), participants brought to mind a significant other and an acquaintance before reporting empathy toward each. For attachment anxiety, the association with SAD was sequentially mediated by higher personal distress toward a significant other and lower self-compassion. For attachment avoidance, the association was mediated by lower empathic concern toward a significant other. Crucially, these mediational pathways were specific to significant others and held after adjusting for empathy toward acquaintances. Supporting the generalization hypothesis, attachment insecurities were associated with empathy toward acquaintances indirectly, through their association with empathy toward significant others. In the clinical sample, the indirect effect of attachment avoidance on SAD via empathic concern toward a significant other was moderated by self-compassion and socioeconomic status, revealing a key boundary condition. This research illuminates how relational schemas of empathy, rooted in close bonds, are linked to social fears.