Psychology

1. Psychology Understanding Psychology: Term 3 Lesson 3

2. What is shyness? • Shyness is a personality trait. • It refers to tendency to avoid others or feelings of anxiety. How are shy people like? • They fail to make eye contact • Speak too quietly • Retreat when spoken to • Show little interest in conversations

3. How can you identify a shy person? • Find it hard to talk to strangers? • Lack confidence with people? • Uncomfortable in social situations or crowds? • Feel nervous around people who are not close? • Extreme Shyness is always associated with depression, loneliness, fearfulness, social anxiety, inhibition, & low self esteem.

4. Elements of Shyness • What causes shyness? • Lack of social skills • Fear of evaluation or criticism • Fear of rejection • Self defeat by blame & guilt in any social contact that doesn’t go well. • Situational causes of Shyness? • In formal situations • Meeting people who are with different background, culture or social standard.

5. Dynamics of Shy Personality • Basic ally shy people are Public self conscious people; they are very concerned with what others think of them. • In certain situations ( as mentioned before) they feel exposed; others ca see through them. • This feeling triggers anxiety and awkwardness & inhibition. • What is the difference between Shy & non-Shy People in dealing with Shyness?

6. Shy Beliefs • What are the most common shy beliefs? Unrealistic, self defeating beliefs: • E.g. 1: if some one doesn’t like you right away they wouldn’t like you ever. • E.g. 2: if you wait in a gathering long enough something will happen; somebody will talk to you. • E.g. 3: Other People who are popular are just lucky when it comes to being invited to social events or asked out (shy people don’t want to make effort or to take initiative to meet others or interact with them).

7. What can be done to reduce Shyness? Shy people must tell themselves statements as: • I’ve got to be active in social situations • I cant wait until am completely relaxed or comfortable before taking a social risk. • I don’t need to pretend to be someone else; be my self • I am not subjected to or under evaluation. • I can set reasonable goals for my conversation and my social circle. • Even people who are very socially skillful are never successful 100 % in all situations; don’t blame myself if it goes bad.

8. Social Skills Some people try to enhance their social skills of presentation by: • Recording their speech, conversation or presentation to know how are the pauses, interruptions, repetition of certain words. • Practice facial expressions like pleasure, surprise, interest or dislike in front of a mirror. • People can learn how to ask questions or what type of questions can initiate a smooth conversation (according to situation). • Questions or statements used to initiate a conversation, presentation or interview are called ice breakers. • Types of questions are either opened questions are the best used as they usually require an explanatory answer, while closed questions are those only answered by Yes or No; there is no chance of having a conversation.

9. Questions

10. Definitions summary DEFINE: • Shyness: a tendency to avoid others plus uneasiness and strain when socializing. • Social Skills: proficiency at interacting with others. • Social Anxiety: A feeling of nervousness in presence of others. • Evaluation fears: fears of being inadequate, embarrassed, ridiculed or rejected. • Private self consciousness: Preoccupation with inner feelings, thoughts, & fantasies regardless people’s opinion (non shy people) • Public self consciousness: intense awareness of oneself as a social object subjected to evaluation.(shy people)

11. Revision • Definitions • What are the reasons for Shyness? • What are shy people’s beliefs? • What is the difference between Shy & non-Shy People in dealing with Shyness? • What are the dynamics of shy personality? • What can be done to reduce Shyness? • What can be done to enhance social skills?

12. Thank you