We present an experimental and theoretical study of multiple diffraction rings of a cw Ar+ laser beam from a nitrobenzene solution of BDN (bis-(4-dimethylaminodithiobenzil)-nickel) caused by the spatial self-phase modulation. We examine in detail the effect of the intensity and phase shift profiles of the beam in the nonlinear medium by comparing the measured ring patterns with the theoretical results based on the Fraunhofer diffraction. Although the thickness of the sample is only 180 µm in our experiment, it is found that the intensity and phase shift profiles are broadened owing to the self-defocusing effect. It is also found that the phase shift profile is further broadened by the thermal diffusion. These two effects become remarkable when the focused beam is used.