On the bifurcation of temperamental shyness: Development, adaptation, and neoteny

In the present paper, the authors use Tinbergen's (1963) seminal four question framework regarding ontogeny, causation, function, and phylogeny to understand individual differences in human shyness. We argue that there are at least two shyness subtypes, an early appearing fearful shyness, and a later emerging self-conscious shyness (Buss, 1986) that develop into avoidant and conflicted shyness, respectively, in early childhood and remain …