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shyness

File:20220801_Introversion_-_Shyness_-_Social_anxiety_disorder_-_comparative_chart.svg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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Also known as timidity, sheepishness

thumb |upright=1.6| Shyness is a personality trait distinct from Extraversion and introversion|introversion and [[social anxiety disorder.]]

AI overview

Shyness is a personality trait that is separate from being introverted or extroverted, and it's also different from social anxiety disorder. Understanding this distinction matters because shyness describes a specific pattern of behavior or temperament, rather than simply preferring solitude or experiencing clinical anxiety in social situations.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

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1,625 papers

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Hermann Kaulbach Die Schüchterne.jpg
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Shyness
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~27 min read

Article

22 sections
Contents
  • Origins
  • Genetics and heredity
  • As a symptom of mercury poisoning
  • Prenatal development
  • Low birth weights
  • Personality trait
  • Concepts
  • Versus introversion
  • Versus social phobia (social anxiety disorder)
  • Social versus behavioral inhibition
  • Misconceptions and negative aspects
  • Intelligence
  • Benefits
  • Different cultural views
  • Western perceptions
  • Eastern perceptions
  • Examples of shyness and inhibition
  • Intervention and treatment
  • See also
  • References
  • Further reading
  • External links

thumb |upright=1.6| Shyness is a personality trait distinct from Extraversion and introversion|introversion and [[social anxiety disorder.]]

Shyness (also called diffidence) is the feeling of apprehension, lack of comfort, or awkwardness especially when a person is around other people. This commonly occurs in new situations or with unfamiliar people; a shy person may simply opt to avoid these situations. Although shyness can be a characteristic of people who have low self-esteem, the primary defining characteristic of shyness is a fear of what other people will think of a person's behavior. This fear of negative reactions such as being mocked, humiliated or patronized, criticized or rejected can cause a shy person to retreat. Stronger forms of shyness can be referred to as social anxiety or social phobia.

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