Shyness

Shyness is the awkwardness or apprehension some people feel when approaching or being approached by other people. Unlike introverts, who feel energized by time alone, shy people often desperately want to connect with others, but don't know how or can't tolerate the anxiety that comes with human interaction. The shy often experience low self-esteem, fear of rejection, or acute self-consciousness—which can prevent them from developing new relationships if they are perpetually turning inward to inspect their own behavior and perceived shortcomings.

The window of American adults who consider themselves shy falls between 40 and 50 percent. But the trait varies greatly around the globe. The cultural values that children learn through parenting and society has an impact on their social tendencies. For example, in Japanese culture, a parent may receive credit for a child’s success, but a child bears responsibility in the case of failure. In Israeli culture, a child receives praise when they succeed and even when they don’t, as parents often attribute the failure to an outside cause. These cultural forces may influence the social risks and choices a child makes moving forward.