Treatment and Management of Shyness in Children
Research and studies have found that shyness in children could be due to genetic, temperamental, and environmental influences (Jaffe, 1991, p. 270, & Zimbardo 1995, p. 56). This paper aims to discuss the types of shyness, the influences on shyness, the difference between normal and problematic shyness. Lastly, strategies will be presented to help the shy child.
The basic feeling of shyness is a common problem not only among children but also among adults. According to Zimbardo (1995, p.56-57) and Jaffe (1995, p. 270), shyness is a mix of emotions, including fear and interest, tension and pleasantness. A shy child may display in his/her
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As the child gains cognitive advances in self-awareness, it brings on greater social sensitivity in the second year. Self-conscious shyness, at times feeling embarrassed, begins to appear at 4 or 5 years in age. Self-consciousness peaks as the child enters into early adolescence (Berk, 2002).
What kind of situations or influences causes children shyness? New social encounters are the most frequent causes of shyness, especially if the child feels himself/herself to be the focus of attention. Zimbardo (1995, p. 108) explains that shyness has been attributed to the “rapidly change social environment and competitive pressures of school and work with which children and adults must cope.”
Researchers have implicated both nurture and nature in children shyness. Some aspects of shyness are learned. Children’s cultural background and family environment model different aspects of social behaviour. Reid and Vans (1989, p.199-218) have found that Children of the sociocentric society have been found to be more quiet, shy and less vocal than the Caucasians and Americans who are egocentric and uphold independency and individualistic ideals.
Feldman (2003, p.326-327) explain that hereditary temperament may play an important part in shyness. Children whose parents are sociable and competently communicative are more outspoken and outgoing in their personality
I have always been a shy person who doesn’t know what the reason for being shy is. There has been always a question that I ask myself. Is it just me and my genes or I am always affected by what people think? Is it how my parents has raised me or is it how I was created? Some enduring issues apply to my situation and might overlap, but I am going to focus on one of them which are nature and nurture.
Everyone knows the feeling of wanting to speak to someone yet the fear of rejection is stuck in the back of your mind, refusing to leave. "Painfully shy", a term used by fellow peers when describing me, and I must admit that they are far from wrong. I find myself stuck in an endless cycle of worry and regret, missing out on great opportunities as the thought of socialising with people I don't know makes my stomach churn and my palms sweat, a wave of nausea crashing over my entire being. I don't think "shy" is the correct label for me. However, I'm unsure what it is that's wrong with me, nor do I know if I will ever find out.
shy and reserved * Does not feel confident to speak to teachers and classroom fellows but very chatty at home
The shy student can be viewed by others as having inadequate language development, however they are merely inhibited by their social trepidations. Research reveals that children with a shy temperament often rely on others and need assistance to communicate thoughts, ideas, and feelings. These types of students will further develop their social confidence with daily interventions lead by caregivers and teachers as well as peers. The buddy bench allows for students
Possible Impact: Children who don’t socialise a lot tend to become isolated and therefore isolate themselves more. They may suffer insecurities about themselves and be withdrawn and shy. They struggle to communicate, share and understand the needs and feelings of others. They will lack confidence to find it hard confide in other people or seek out help and advice. This can also lead them to be drawn into ‘the wrong crowd’ because
I have always been sort of a shy kid; I kept to myself and did not interact with other people if I did not have to.
“In summary all five student showed a considerable gain on their report cards. The fact that the students also improved in other areas may be to the halo effect; that is, teachers having been biased when grading the papers, but it should be noted that the student also showed an gain in there nonacademic class.” Hickey, K., Imber, S. & Ruggiero, E. (2015)
The study of Social anxiety shows no clear causes for its variety of symptoms, but psychologists have been able to determined triggers and possible factors for its development. As psychologists continue to study social phobia, they have determined many possible causes. Since the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, psychologists have
I observed in the preschool class for two hours, there were a total of 12 children in the class Most of the kids that are in the preschool class were four years old, but there was one five year old. When I first arrived at the preschool, the kids seemed very shy towards me and they did not seem like they were very sociable. I was a stranger to them, and I would have to guess that all of the children were experiencing a little bit of stranger anxiety. I talked to the teacher about how the children reacted to all “strangers” She said that the children often become very uneasy. As I sat down to observe the children, I noticed one thing right away. The boys in the group were very wild and rambunctious, and the girls seemed to be shy and
For most of my life I was incredibly shy, introverted and had minimal self-confidence. I didn’t have many friends at school and I didn’t feel I fit in with my peers.
Behavioral inhibition in children is often linked to the development of social anxiety disorders because it encompasses the likelihood of a child experiencing distress and withdrawal from unfamiliar situations and various stimuli. However, several researchers have indicated that assisting the children to become confident in social environments can become helpful in ensuring they get over the condition. Children with this condition are said to feel anxious and fearful when around strange people, environs, or even situations, hence withdrawing. In fact, they can also stop what they were doing once they notice that they are in an unfamiliar position. Whereas it is observed that some of the children continue to exhibit steady behavioral inhibition, some show more different tendencies as they grow up into adulthood (Frenkel et al., 2015).
Social Phobia, also called social anxiety disorder (SAD), is one of the most common, but misconstrued mental health problems in society. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), over 15 million adults suffer from the disorder. First appearing in the DSM-III as Social Phobia, and later in the DSM-IV as Social Anxiety Disorder, this newly established disorder denotes afflicting stress and anxiety associated with social situations (Zakri 677). According to James W. Jefferson, two forms of Social phobia exist: specific and generalized. Specific social phobia indicates anxiety limited to few performance situations, while generalized indicates anxiety in all social situations (Jefferson). Many people often interchangeably link this disorder to shyness––a personality trait. However, although they have striking similarities, the two are divergent. To begin with, SAD has an extensive etiology ranging from multiple factors. Furthermore, symptoms of various aspects accompany SAD. Moreover, SAD has detrimental impacts affecting quality of life. Lastly, SAD has numerous methods of treatment. Social Phobia is prevalent in both women and men beginning at the onset of puberty (ADAA).
At an early age, children begin the process of socialization. In order for one to be able to communicate with others, it is essential for one to learn to socialize with the people around them. One cause
This literature review is conducted to explore the social anxiety disorder, its Etiology, prevalence and finally putting focus on the need of a special treatment for adolescent with social anxiety disorder. Anxiety problems are the most common and widespread mental issues and are an area of interest for the medical as well as psychology researchers. These disorders are related to excess fear and anxiety and associated behavioural problems, where an
This case study involves a girl named Claire who is a recent college freshman. She is very shy and experiences some issue with social anxiety. She never had many friends and felt that hanging out with her brother and sister was all the social interaction she needed. Claire and her parents thought her new college would be a great fit for her and a chance for her to overcome her fear. Unfortunately, she is having a hard time fitting in and interacting in a variety of social settings (Ashcraft, 2012).