Shyness as a dimension of personality.
Examination of a number of major studies of personality questionnaires reveals the existence of a shyness factor which is related to but separable from both introversion and neuroticism, and which loads on items referring to feeling uncomfortable and self-conscious, and keeping in the background in certain kinds of social situations. The fears that are generally expressed about social situations--of being negatively evaluated and of being socially inadequate--are reflected in subjects' descriptions of the causes of shyness, and these findings suggest a model of shyness in terms of individual differences in susceptibility to threat.
D006801:Humans; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010556:Personality Tests; D012919:Social Behavior; D012931:Social Environment