What is a likely effect of hypervigilance on social interaction with non-police friends and acquaintances?

• A. Reduced interaction with non-police friends and acquaintances
• B. Increased interaction with non-police friends and acquaintances
• C. No change in social interactions
• D. Complete withdrawal from all social activity

Answer: (A)

Hypervigilance keeps a person in a constant state of alert, scanning for threats and staying on edge. In social settings with non-police friends, that heightened arousal makes casual interaction tiring and stressful, so the person tends to pull back and interact less. They may also misread neutral cues as threatening or feel overwhelmed by everyday unpredictability, further reducing comfort in those social situations. So, the most likely effect is a reduction in interaction with non-police friends and acquaintances. Increased interaction isn’t typical because safety and relaxation aren’t present; no change ignores ongoing arousal, and complete withdrawal is possible in extreme cases but not as likely as simply cutting back on social contacts.