I don't know anyone who hasn't felt shy at one time or
another. Whether it's walking into a party, or a business
meeting, approaching a stranger to ask for directions, or placing
a telephone call in response to a job announcement, most of us
feel inhibited in certain situations. Then there are those of us
who experience this feeling of shyness in most situations that
involve dealing with other people.
According to the Encyclopedia of Mental Health,
"shyness may be defined experientially as discomfort and/or
inhibition in interpersonal situations that interferes with
pursuing one's interpersonal or professional goals" (Henderson, Lynn and Phillip Zimbardo. "Shyness."
The Encyclopedia of Mental Health.
Academic Press. San Diego, CA). "[Shyness] may vary from
mild social awkwardness to totally inhibiting social
phobia," also from this source.
Causes of Shyness
Many scientists believe shyness is a genetic predisposition
caused by the wiring in our brains. This means that if our
parents are shy we will be shy as well. Psychologists Bernardo
Carducci and Phillip Zimbardo say that there seems to be an
increase in the number of shy people. They feel that this
increase is due to technological advances that allow for fewer
interpersonal interactions. These technological advances include
automatic teller machines, voice mail, and the internet
(Hendricks, Melissa. "Why So Shy?"
USAWEEKEND.COM).
The same article states that other shyness experts feel that
going online helps those who are socially inhibited improve their
interpersonal skills.
Are You Shy?
In a study published by Zimbardo in 1975, he stated that 40%
of 800 respondents to a survey he conducted considered themselves
shy (Sussman, Susan. "
The Quiet Disorder"). Twenty years later, in
1995, Bernardo Carducci published the results of a similar study.
This time the percentage increased to 48% of respondents
considering themselves shy.
While many of us consider ourselves shy, not all of those who
do allow it to define us. For example, I have always considered
myself to be a shy person. However, when I took a quiz, created
by Carducci, which rates level of shyness, the results showed
that I was moderately shy. What this means is that, though I
sometimes experience feelings associated with shyness, I have not
allowed these feelings to keep me from pursuing my personal and
professional goals.
How Shyness Can Affect Your Career?
Researchers have found that those who are shy tend to begin
their careers later than non-shy people. They are also more apt
to refuse promotions. They choose careers that are less
interpersonal and are more undecided about which field to pursue
(Azar, Beth. "When Self Awareness Works Overtime."
APA
Monitor. November 1995). Once in a career, "shy
people have a harder time developing a career identity -- an
image of themselves as competent or successful within a career
track."
Next...
Overcoming Shyness
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