Many different sociologists and psychiatrists look at social phobias and the degrees of social phobias in many different ways or theories.
FEMALE MALADY
In Susie Scott’s article, "The Medicalization of Shyness: From Social Misfits to Social Fitness”, she refers to shyness as a ‘female malady’. She believes many females have traits of shyness, compassion, gullibility, soft-spokenness, and unpredictability (Scott 137). Scott also states that apprehensiveness is a normal feeling for people to experience in certain situations. She believes many people label themselves so strongly as shy that they constantly feel anxious, lonely, frustrated, and believe shyness even interferes with their everyday life (Scott 133).
LEARNED EXPERIENCE
Sandy Stiefer looks at shyness as an extreme form of social phobias. She believes that along with social phobias, people may experience strong physical reactions such as a pounding heart, shaking, sweating, blushing, and feeling extremely embarrassed when put in uncomfortable situations. Many people who experience these symptoms tend to get so embarrassed to be seen or judged by people that they completely avoid some social situations (Stiefer 1). Because people only experience these symptoms in certain situations they are put in to, the theory offers shyness as a learned social phobia. In this theory, people learn to be uncomfortable and fear situations, which trigger their social anxiety, therefore making it a ‘learned’ experience. This learned experience is something that stays with that person until they ‘learn’ a new way to deal with the situation. Stiefer interviewed Jonathan Berent who works with people and their shyness in his clinic in New York. Berent stated that he too, believes shyness is a learned behavior (Stiefer 2).
TRAIT LIKE
Ray Crozier also views shyness as a social phobia, but believes it is more trait-like. Crozier believes that children and or adults put in uncomfortable situations that involve a public audience further enhances their social phobia. This fear is present at birth and is only expressed during certain situations ("Shyness 460"). This just meaning people who are put in situations in which they much present themselves to the public or an audience tend to express more serious shyness.
*There are many different views as to what causes shyness. Each person should use his or her own personal problem when trying to define their own degree of shyness.
FEMALE MALADY
In Susie Scott’s article, "The Medicalization of Shyness: From Social Misfits to Social Fitness”, she refers to shyness as a ‘female malady’. She believes many females have traits of shyness, compassion, gullibility, soft-spokenness, and unpredictability (Scott 137). Scott also states that apprehensiveness is a normal feeling for people to experience in certain situations. She believes many people label themselves so strongly as shy that they constantly feel anxious, lonely, frustrated, and believe shyness even interferes with their everyday life (Scott 133).
LEARNED EXPERIENCE
Sandy Stiefer looks at shyness as an extreme form of social phobias. She believes that along with social phobias, people may experience strong physical reactions such as a pounding heart, shaking, sweating, blushing, and feeling extremely embarrassed when put in uncomfortable situations. Many people who experience these symptoms tend to get so embarrassed to be seen or judged by people that they completely avoid some social situations (Stiefer 1). Because people only experience these symptoms in certain situations they are put in to, the theory offers shyness as a learned social phobia. In this theory, people learn to be uncomfortable and fear situations, which trigger their social anxiety, therefore making it a ‘learned’ experience. This learned experience is something that stays with that person until they ‘learn’ a new way to deal with the situation. Stiefer interviewed Jonathan Berent who works with people and their shyness in his clinic in New York. Berent stated that he too, believes shyness is a learned behavior (Stiefer 2).
TRAIT LIKE
Ray Crozier also views shyness as a social phobia, but believes it is more trait-like. Crozier believes that children and or adults put in uncomfortable situations that involve a public audience further enhances their social phobia. This fear is present at birth and is only expressed during certain situations ("Shyness 460"). This just meaning people who are put in situations in which they much present themselves to the public or an audience tend to express more serious shyness.
*There are many different views as to what causes shyness. Each person should use his or her own personal problem when trying to define their own degree of shyness.