TABLE 3.

Category scheme.

Main category	First level subcategory	Second level subcategory	Third level subcategory
A Subjective experience	A1 Negative emotions	A11 Anxiety/panic A12 Shame/embarrassment A13 Nervousness/restlessness A14 Discomfort A15 Regret/frustration A16 Perplexity/confusion/lack of understanding A17 Stress/restriction A18 Pressure/pressure to perform A19 Anger A110 Rumination A111 Failure/overload/inability A112 Effort	–
	A2 Negative self-concept	A21 Impolite A22 Inadequate/inappropriate A23 Strange/odd/funny/not normal A24 Crazy A25 Socially insecure A26 Not worth it A27 Quiet A28 The only one	–
	A3 Expectations and perceived functions of saying names	A31 Expected effect on others/what names stand for	A311 Seems forced/stupid/funny A312 Creates the feeling of being the center of attention A313 Triggers a negative reaction in the other person A314 Creates the feeling of being caught out A315 Feeling of being caught red-handed A316 Pronunciation could be wrong/one could make a mistake A317 Creates seriousness/strictness A318 Stands for respect A319 Stands for the whole person A3110 Has a magical quality A3111 Stands for identity/uniqueness A3112 Is invasive A3113 One is seen A3114 Could feel distant, formal, unemotional A3115 One shows oneself/makes oneself vulnerable A3116 Is personal/intimate A3117 Is beautiful A3118 It might disturb/distract the person A3119 It feels trivial/not special A3120 It could sound very emotional
		A32 Social functions	A321 Creates (too much) closeness/connection A322 Creates the feeling of being at the mercy of others A323 Dissolves closeness (when I say your name, I am someone other than you; dissolves symbiosis) A324 Establishes a boundary
	A4 Possible benefits of not (!) saying names	A41 Preserves something of one’s own A42 Protects from being hurt A43 Preserves a boundary/creates distance A44 Serves to express aggression A45 Serves to express repressed anger	–
	A5 How it feels to try to address someone by their name	A51 As if you were holding your breath A52 Blockage/inhibition/overcoming A53 Pausing A54 A little shock A55 Crossing a border A56 Feeling physically bad A57 Nausea A58 Chest area contracts A59 Feelings need to be turned off A510 Like looking someone in the eyes A511 Like physical contact A512 An inside-verbalization that cannot come out	–
B General characteristics	B1 Affected relationships	B11 Romantic relationships B12 Father/stepfather B13 People with funny names (e.g., names that are difficult to pronounce) B14 Men B15 In (almost) all relationships B16 Parents B17 Strangers B18 People with beautiful names B19 Colleagues in education B110 Adults/older people B111 Teachers/lecturers B112 Close/people known for quite some time/friends/important persons B113 Persons of authority B114 Very specific people	–
	B2 Affected forms of communication	B21 Personal contact B22 When saying first names B23 In serious situations B24 In conversation with third parties B25 In writing B26 In direct conversation	–
	B3 Using nicknames	B31 Nicknames are not used in affected relationships B32 Nicknames are used in non-affected relationships B33 Nicknames are used in affected relationships	–
	B4 Relation to one’s own name	B41 No identification with own name B42 Negative attitude toward own name B43 Pleasant when others say own name B44 Unpleasant when others say own name B45 One’s own name stands for punishment/annoyance B46 Being called by one’s own name creates distance B47 Being addressed by one’s own name creates an inferior position	—
	B5 Frequency (first occurrence, occurrences, duration, etc.)	B51 The difficulty always occurs in the affected relationships B52 The difficulty occurs over the entire duration of an affected relationship (e.g., throughout marriage) B53 The difficulty occurs consistently since the first romantic relationship B54 As early as kindergarten B55 In adolescence B56 Always B57 It is the normal state	–
	B6 Non-affected relationships/situations	B61 Interactions with women B62 With friends/colleagues/acquaintances (male and female) B63 Animals B64 Siblings B65 Formal relationships B66 Parents B67 With new acquaintances B68 At sports B69 With particularly good friends B70 With children	–
	B7 Non-affected forms of communication	B71 In Conversation with Third Parties B72 In writing B73 In playful situations	–
C Effects and coping strategies	C1 Effects on making contact	C11 Is difficult C12 Long waiting times until contact is made/conversation begins C13 None (because coping strategy works so well) C14 No contact C15 Attempt to attract attention “telepathically”	–
	C2 Effects on affected relationships	C21 Noticed by others C22 Unnoticed by others C23 Perceived as impersonal/cold/distant C24 Offends/hurts/makes people sad C25 Not understood C26 Creates a barrier/distance C27 Some things remain unsaid C28 Mistrust arises C29 No significant influences	-
	C3 Coping strategies	C31 Starting a conversation without address C32 Establishing contact through eye contact C33 Use of impersonal forms of address (hey, etc.) C34 Making contact by touching (e.g. tapping on the shoulder) C35 Masking/avoidance C36 Attempt to say names (unsuccessful) C37 Use of nicknames C38 Use of surnames C39 Use of text messages instead of face-to-face conversation C310 Saying names in a funny way/with dialect/as a joke C311 Joking about it	–
	C4 Intervention/therapy	C41 Talking about it (with affected people) C42 Psychotherapy C43 Trying to break through the problem C44 Exercise/dry training C45 Fear of therapy C46 Researching the topic	–
D Vulnerability factors	D1 Childhood and family	D11 Early signs of social anxiety (e.g., shyness, frequent blushing, etc.) D12 Trauma/neglect/parental abuse/violence D13 Mental disorders in the family (e.g., depression, addiction, narcissism, etc.) D14 Absent parent (e.g., early death of a parent, absent father, etc.) D15 Unstable family relationships (e.g., separation, divorce, strongly changing caregivers) D16 Hardly any or no contact with family members D17 Conflict avoidance in childhood/birth family D18 Little communication/openness in the family D19 Distant relationship with family D110 Psychological problems in childhood D111 Good family relationships in childhood D112 Few friendships/bullying D113 Dispute in the family D114 Pressure to perform	–
	D2 Current relationship patterns	D21 Conflict avoidance D22 Difficulty perceiving and communicating one’s own boundaries D23 Dependent relationships D24 Symbiotic relationships, desire to merge D25 Difficulty trusting/relating/jealousy D26 Few/no positive relationships D27 Few male friends D28 Good/happy/trusting current relationship D29 Low self-worth	–
	D3 Difficulty in the expression of emotions	D31 Difficulty expressing feelings verbally (general) D32 Difficulty expressing affection verbally D33 Difficulty expressing gratitude verbally D34 Difficulty expressing aggression D35 Difficulty expressing needs	–