Social anxiety stems from misplaced pessimism about how others respond to us—research shows people are far kinder than we expect. Dr. Nick Epley reveals how everyday moments of connection with strangers and loved ones dramatically improve mental health, and why exposure to real social situations, not avoidance, rewires our beliefs about human nature. Exposure therapy for social anxiety works by changing pessimistic beliefs about others' responses, not by desensitizing anxiety; when people test their fears by asking strangers for help, they discover acceptance rates far exceed their predictions.