Shyness 208305 226127237 2008-07-16T22:57:16Z Ronz 7862 [[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 226123564 by [[Special:Contributions/Combomember|Combomember]] ([[User talk:Combomember|talk]]) spam {{worldwide}} {{Refimprove|date=April 2008}} In [[human]]s, '''shyness''' (also called '''diffidence''') is the [[feeling]] of apprehension or [[insecure|lack of confidence]] experienced in regard to social association with others, e.g. being in proximity to, approaching and being approached by others. In [[zoology]], '''shy''' generally means "tends to avoid human beings"; ''See [[crypsis]]''. ''Shyness'' in [[animals]] manifests with ostensibly similar behavioral traits, but differs wholly from humans in cognition and motivation. ==Triggers, traits and misperception== Shyness is most likely to occur during unfamiliar situations, though in severe cases it may hinder an individual in his or her most familiar situations and relationships as well. Shy individuals avoid the objects of their apprehension in order to avoid feeling uncomfortable and inept, thus the situations remain unfamiliar and the shyness perpetuates itself. Shyness may fade with time (a [[child]] who is shy toward [[strangers]], for instance, may eventually lose this trait when [[maturity|older]] and more socially adept), or may be an integrated, life-long character trait, often by adolescence and young adulthood (but most likely around the age of 13). Humans experience shyness to different degrees and in different areas. For example, an actor may be loud and bold on stage, but shy in an interview. In addition, shyness may manifest when one is in the company of certain people and completely disappear when with others—one may be outgoing with friends and family, but experience [[love-shyness]] toward potential partners, even if strangers are generally not an obstacle. The condition of true shyness may simply involve the discomfort of difficulty in knowing what to say in [[social]] situations, or may include crippling physical manifestations of uneasiness. Shyness usually involves a combination of both symptoms, and may be quite devastating for the sufferer, in many cases leading them to feel that they are boring, or exhibit bizarre behaviour in an attempt to create interest, alienating them further. Instinctive behavioural traits in social situations such as [[smiling]], easily producing suitable [[conversation]]al topics, assuming a relaxed posture and making good [[eye contact]], which come spontaneously for the average person, may not be second nature for a shy person, requiring struggle or being completely unattainable. ===Complications=== The term ''shyness'' may be implemented as a lay blanket-term for a family of related and partially overlapping afflictions, including [[timidity]] (apprehension in meeting new people), [[bashfulness]] and diffidence (lack of assertiveness), apprehension and anticipation (general fear of potential interaction), or intimidation (relating to the object of fear rather than one's low confidence).[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/shy] It must also be noted that apparent shyness, as perceived by others, may simply be the manifestation of reservation or [[introversion]], character traits which cause an individual to voluntarily avoid excessive social contact or be terse in communication, but are not motivated or accompanied by discomfort, apprehension, or lack of confidence. Rather, according to Bernardo J. Carducci, director of the [http://homepages.ius.edu/Special/Shyness/ Shyness Research Institute], introverts ''choose'' to avoid social situations because they derive no reward from them, or may find surplus sensory input overwhelming. Conversely, shy people fear such situations and feel that they ''must'' avoid them. [http://psychcentral.com/library/shyness.htm] Shy people tend to perceive their own shyness as a negative trait, and many people are uneasy with shyness in others, especially in cultures which value [[individuality]] and taking charge. This generally poor reception of shyness may be misinterpreted by the suffering individual as aversion related to his or her personality, rather than simply to his or her shyness. Both conditions can lead to a compounding of a shy individual's low self-confidence. In [[United States|American]] culture, which tends to value outspokenness and confidence, a shy individual could be perceived as weak. To an unsympathetic observer, a shy individual may be mistaken as arrogant or aloof, frustrating the sufferer. In more forgiving arenas, shy people may be perceived to be thoughtful, good listeners and are more likely to think before they speak. Furthermore, [[boldness]], the opposite of shyness, may cause its own problems, such as impertinence or inappropriate behavior. ==Origins== The initial causes of shyness vary. Scientists have located some genetic data that supports the hypothesis that shyness is at least partially genetic. However, there is also evidence that the environment in which a person is raised can affect their shyness. This includes [[child abuse]], particularly [[emotional abuse]] such as ridicule. Shyness can originate after a person has experienced a physical [[anxiety]] reaction; at other times, shyness seems to develop first and then later causes physical symptoms of anxiety. Shyness differs from [[social anxiety]], which is a broader, often [[clinical depression|depression]]-related psychological condition including the experience of fear, apprehension or worry regarding social situations and being evaluated by others to [[panic]]-inducing extents. ==Genetics and heredity== The genetics of shyness is a relatively small area of research that has been receiving an even smaller amount of attention, although papers on the biological bases of shyness date back at least to [[1988]]. Some research has indicated that shyness and [[aggression]] are related—through long and short forms of the [[gene]] DRD4, though considerably more research on this is needed. Further, it has been suggested that shyness and [[social phobia]] (the distinction between the two is becoming ever more blurred) are related to [[obsessive-compulsive disorder]]. As with other studies of [[behavioral genetics]], the study of shyness is complicated by the number of genes involved in, and the confusion in defining, the [[phenotype]]. Naming the phenotype – and translation of terms between genetics and [[psychology]] — also causes problems. In some research, "behavioral inhibition" is studied, in others anxiety or social inhibition is. One solution to this problem is to study the genetics of underlying traits, such as "anxious temperament." Several genetic links to shyness are current areas of research. One is the serotonin transporter promoter region polymorphism ([[5-HTTLPR]]), the long form of which has been shown to be modestly correlated with shyness in grade school children.<ref name="ArbelleS2003Relation">{{Cite journal | author = [[Shoshana Arbelle]], [[Jonathan Benjamin]], [[Moshe Golin]], [[Ilana Kremer]], [[Robert H. Belmaker]] & [[Richard P. Ebstein]] | title = Relation of shyness in grade school children to the genotype for the long form of the serotonin transporter promoter region polymorphism | journal = [[The American journal of psychiatry]] | volume = 160 | issue = 4 | pages = 671–676 | year = 2003 | month = April | pmid = 12668354 }}</ref> Previous studies had shown a connection between this form of the gene and both obsessive-compulsive disorder and [[autism]].{{Fact|date=July 2008}} [[Model organism#Vertebrates|Mouse model]]s have also been used, to derive genes suitable for further study in humans; one such gene, the [[L-glutamic acid decarboxylase|glutamic acid decarboxylase]] gene (which encodes an [[enzyme]] that functions in [[Gamma-aminobutyric acid|GABA synthesis]]), has so far been shown to have some association with behavioral inhibition. Another gene, the dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) exon III polymorphism, had been the subject of studies in both shyness and aggression, and is currently the subject of studies on the "novelty seeking" trait. A [[1996]] study of anxiety-related traits (shyness being one of these) remarked that, "Although twin studies have indicated that individual variation in measures of anxiety-related personality traits is 40-60% heritable, none of the relevant genes has yet been identified," and that "10 to 15 genes might be predicted to be involved" in the anxiety trait. Progress has been made since then, especially in identifying other potential genes involved in personality traits, but there has been little progress made towards confirming these relationships. The long version of the 5-HTT gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) is now postulated to be correlated with shyness,<ref name="ArbelleS2003Relation"/> but in the 1996 study, the short version was shown to be related to anxiety-based traits. This confusion and contradiction does not oppose the genetic basis of personality traits, but does emphasize the amount of research there is still to be done before the bases of even one or two of these characteristics can be identified. ==Environmental factors== Excessive shyness, embarrassment, self consciousness and timidity, social-phobia and lack of self-confidence are also components of [[erethism]], which is a symptom complex that appears in cases of [[mercury (element)|mercury]] poisoning<ref>WHO (1976) Environmental Health Criteria 1: Mercury, Geneva, [[World Health Organization]], 131 pp.</ref><ref>WHO. Inorganic mercury. Environmental Health Criteria 118. World Health Organization, Geneva, 1991.</ref>. == See also == * [[Boldness]] * [[Love-shyness]] * [[Introversion]] * [[Social anxiety]] * [[Social anxiety disorder]] * [[Selective mutism]] * [[Avoidant personality disorder]] * [[Highly sensitive person]] ==References== {{refbegin}} *Kluger, A. N.; Siegfried, Z.; Epbstein, R. P.: A meta-analysis of the association between DRD4 polymorphism and novelty seeking. Molecular Psychiatry 2002; 7: 712-717. *Lesch, Klaus-Peter; Bengal, Dietmar; Heils, Armin; Sabol, Sue Z.; Greenberg, Benjamin D.; Petri, Susanne; Benjamin, Jonathan; Muller, Clemens R.; Hamer, Dean H.; Murphy, Dennis L.: Association of anxiety-related traits with a polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene regulatory region. Science 1996; 274(5292): 1527-1531. *Smoller, Jordan W.; Rosenbaum, Jerold F.; Biederman, Joseph; Susswein, Lisa S.; Kennedy, John; Kagan, Jerome; Snidman, Nancy; Laird, Nan; Tsuang, Ming T.; Faraone, Stephen V.; Schwarz, Alysandra; Slaugenhaupt, Susan A.: Genetic association analysis of behavioral inhibition using candidate loci from mouse models. American Journal of Medical Genetics 2001; 105: 226-235. {{refend}} {{reflist}} == External links == * [http://www.shyness.com/encyclopedia.html Lynn Henderson and Philip Zimbardo: "Shyness". Entry in ''Encyclopedia of Mental Health'', Academic Press, San Diego, CA (in press)] * [http://www.overcoming-shyness.com/ Overcoming Shyness Facts] * [http://www.goodbyetoshy.com/ Overcoming Shyness Online Course: Goodbye to Shy] * [http://www.dontcallmeshy.com/ Don't Call Me Shy: Help For Parents of Shy Children] * [http://asp.cumc.columbia.edu/SAD/ Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS-SR)]+ * [http://www.shyunited.com/ SHY United~ Information for shy people, forum, articles, and much more!] {{Spoken Wikipedia|Shyness.ogg|2006-12-17}} {{Emotion-footer}} [[Category:Social psychology]] [[Category:Symptoms]] [[bg:Притеснителност]] [[da:Generthed]] [[de:Schüchternheit]] [[es:Timidez]] [[fr:Timidité]] [[it:Timidezza]] [[lt:Drovumas]] [[nl:Verlegenheid]] [[ja:人見知り]] [[pl:Nieśmiałość]] [[pt:Timidez]] [[ru:Застенчивость]] [[fi:Ujous]] [[sv:Blyghet]] [[ta:வெட்கம்]] [[tr:Çekingenlik]]