Shyness, social anxiety, and social anxiety disorder: comparing and contrasting

The study of shyness and social anxiety (disorder) has a long history in the scientific and clinical literature, and they are often viewed on a continuum. In this chapter, we adopt the perspective that shyness and social anxiety (disorder) are conceptually related but distinct phenomena. We compare and contrast shyness and social anxiety (disorder) by providing an overview of the similarities and differences from conceptual, developmental, and clinical perspectives. We conclude the chapter with a discussion of contemporary and future directions in this area of inquiry, including the importance of considering issues of measurement, culture, historical time, and heterogeneity.