shyness

Introversion and Shyness
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Cain (n.d.) suggests that there is a significant difference between shyness and introversion. According to her, shyness entails one’s fear of social judgment, whereas introversion is concerned with one’s response to stimulation, including social stimulation. While extroverts seek large amounts of stimulation, introverts tend to feel more alive and capable in quiet and serene environments.
Introversion and shyness are two distinct personality traits that are often wrongly assumed to be synonymous. According to the Myers-Briggs personality tests, introversion refers to one of the pairs in the test that receives a higher score if an individual revitalizes his or her energy through solitary activities, such as writing, reading or reflection. Conversely, shyness delineates one’s way of dealing with other people and strange situations. Shy people are often uncomfortable in unfamiliar situations and have a difficult time meeting and talking to new people (Yerkes, 2007).
Although both personality traits are unrelated, it is not uncommon that they are both present in the same person. A person may be introverted and shy while another may be introverted and not shy. While both traits are related to socialization, the fear of socializing found in shy people is completely different from the lack of interest in socializing that is often a character of introverts. Introverts do not consider the social interaction a necessi…