Biases in Interpersonal Perceptions Compared to Peers: Specificity of Generalized Anxiety, Social Anxiety, and Depression Symptoms.

Interpersonal theory asserts that biased perceptions of others’ interpersonal behaviors maintains psychopathology. Participants with generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and depression symptoms rated their perceptions of 32 vignettes depicting behavior varying in dominance, affiliation, and morality. Each symptom dimension showed specific biases in social perceptions compared to peers.