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- Dictionaryshyness/ˈʃʌɪnɪs/
noun
- 1. the quality or state of being shy: "gradually he overcame his natural shyness"
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Learn the meaning, synonyms, examples, and history of the word shy, which can be an adjective, verb, or noun. Shy can mean easily frightened, timid, hesitant, or disreputable, among other things.
- Overview
- Types of shyness
- What are the causes of shyness?
- What to look for
- How is shyness diagnosed?
- How is shyness treated?
- Preventing shyness
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Being shy may mean you’re quiet and don’t enjoy being the center of attention. Shyness is natural and not a problem, unless it causes you emotional pain and distress. It is possible to overcome it, though.
Shyness is a feeling of fear or discomfort caused by other people, especially in new situations or among strangers. It’s an unpleasant feeling of self-consciousness — a fear of what some people believe others are thinking.
This fear can inhibit a person’s ability to do or say what they want. It can also prevent the formation of healthy relationships.
Shyness is often linked to low self-esteem. It may also be one of the causes of social anxiety.
Shyness can vary in strength. Many people feel mild feelings of discomfort that are easily overcome. Others feel extreme fear of social situations, and this fear can be debilitating. Inhibition, withdrawal from social activities, anxiety, and depression can result from shyness.
Shyness encompasses a broad spectrum of behaviors. It’s normal for children to sometimes feel shy in new situations. Perceptions of shyness may also be cultural.
About 15 percent of infants are born with a tendency toward shyness. Research has shown biological differences in the brains of shy people.
But a propensity for shyness also is influenced by social experiences. It’s believed that most shy children develop shyness because of interactions with parents.
Parents who are authoritarian or overprotective can cause their children to be shy. Children who aren’t allowed to experience things may have trouble developing social skills.
A warm, caring approach to rearing children usually results in them being more comfortable around others.
Schools, neighborhoods, communities, and culture all shape a child. Connections a child makes within these networks contribute to their development. Children with shy parents may emulate that behavior.
In adults, highly critical work environments and public humiliation can lead to shyness.
Not all children who play alone happily are shy. Fear and anxiety are elements of shyness.
One of the first signs that a child’s shyness might be a cause for concern is that they never want to leave their parent’s side.
Children who do poorly in their studies or who have a difficult time making friends should be evaluated for shyness. Those who have been victimized by bullying are at risk for developing shyness.
Children who are constantly ridiculed may exhibit aggressive behavior as an overcompensation for shyness. Those who have experienced neglect are at risk as well.
Sometimes, shy children aren’t diagnosed and treated. Unlike many other emotional disorders, shyness often doesn’t result in a child causing problems. Frequently, there are no tantrums or aggressive behavior to raise red flags and encourage treatment.
According to the National Alliance for Mental Illness, anxiety — which is more than shyness — affects approximately 7 percent of children aged 3 to 17 in the United States.
Overcoming extreme shyness can be essential for the development of healthy self-esteem. Shyness can result in difficulties at school and difficulties forming relationships.
Psychotherapy can help children cope with shyness. They can be taught social skills, how to be aware of their shyness, and ways to understand when their shyness is the result of irrational thinking.
Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing can help children and adults cope with anxiety, which may underlie shyness. Group therapy can also be helpful in children and adults experiencing shyness.
There are effective treatments for adults with anxiety who have difficult completing daily activities. However, severe anxiety often goes untreated.
To prevent or manage shyness, parents and guardians can help children develop the following skills:
•coping with change
•managing anger
•using humor
•showing compassion
•being assertive
Shyness is a feeling of fear or discomfort caused by other people, especially in new situations or among strangers. It can vary in strength and be influenced by biological and social factors. Learn how to cope with shyness and prevent it from affecting your life.
noun [ U ] uk / ˈʃaɪ.nəs / us / ˈʃaɪ.nəs / Add to word list. C1. the condition of being shy: His face went red with shyness when he walked into the crowded room. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Shy and modest. aw shucks. backward. bashfully. bashfulness. humility. inadequacy. inadequate. indoorsiness. indoorsy. mousy. reticence.
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.
Shyness is a sense of awkwardness or apprehension that some people consistently feel when approaching or being approached by others.
- Shyness emerges from a few key characteristics: self-consciousness, negative self-preoccupation, low self-esteem and fear of judgment and rejection...
- Shyness is characterized by excessive self-consciousness, negative self-evaluation, and negative self-preoccupation, features that involve a sense...
- Shyness is driven by both biological and environmental forces. Babies are born with different temperaments, and those with an extremely sensitive t...
- Shyness can be heightened during adolescence, since teens have to navigate new situations from classes to friendships to puberty. They may fear bei...
- Shyness is distinct from introversion. Introverts feel energized by time alone; shy people often want to connect with others, but don't know how or...
- The cultural values that children absorb from their parents and the larger society influence their social tendencies. Approximately 40 to 50 percen...
- Preparing for a social situation can shift your focus from what can go wrong to what can go right. Prepare questions for others and anecdotes you’d...
- Shyness doesn’t disappear on its own. Shy people are most successful when they acknowledge and understand their shyness, and then act based on that...
- Parents can help shy children cultivate friendships without pushing them to be someone they’re not. Parents can encourage the child’s passions, as...
Shyness is the condition of being shy, which means feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed in social situations. Learn more about the meaning, pronunciation, synonyms and translations of shyness with examples from the Cambridge Dictionary.
Shyness is the feeling of being nervous or embarrassed about meeting and speaking to other people. Learn how to pronounce, use and synonymize this word with Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
