Shyness☆

Shyness reflects an anxious pre-occupation with the self in response to real or imagined social situations. While it is common for some children to feel shy, their fears of, and difficulties in, social interactions have concerned parents, teachers, and mental health professionals in some cases. For example, childhood shyness may be a risk factor for later social anxiety disorders and mental health problems. This article discusses some of the possible origins and mechanisms that maintain shyness by examining recent findings on the development of shyness and its long-term outcomes, with a particular emphasis on the biological basis shyness.